August 26, 2022 – Colossians 3:17, The Funny Shape of Faith

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. -Colossians 3:17

“Faced with persecution and the threat of death, we might beg for a glass of water too. How many people would manage instead to pour out words of hope and thanks to God? The words in the Bible passage sound like the words of a happy Christian in the most ideal of circumstances. But they aren’t. Paul, the writer, is stuck in prison for his beliefs. He has every reason to grumble about the lousy food, mistreatment, and non-existent sentencing guidelines. But what is he saying instead? “Give thanks to God in everything.” Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Locations 215-216). Kindle Edition.

In Case of Emergency

Do everything in the name of Jesus. Have you ever pondered that statement? Have you ever thought about the challenge those words present?

Moses was faced with an enormous problem, a challenge he tried again and again to convince G-d that he was not the right person for the challenge. In fact, if there would have been a fire extinguisher next to the burning bush, I am sure Moses would have tried to use it. But G-d had other plans.

Do everything in the name of Jesus. How about we begin with remembering every day all that Jesus has done for us. If we wake each day remembering the blessings we have through Jesus, when we begin each day with a heart of thankfulness, perhaps it will be easier to do perhaps one or two things in the name of Jesus each day. And day after day the list of things we are doing for Jesus will grow and grow.

Let us pray,

Lord Jesus, I pray for an attitude of gratitude in all times. You have blessed me beyond anything I could imagine. Help me to live into those blessings every day. Amen.

Pastor Dave