Every Thought Matters: Living Fully in the Name of Jesus

Colossians 3:17

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (NIV)

We may not realize how every action is meaningful. We imagine that some words have no real significance. We don’t consider that what is done in private means anything. Nobody is watching, after all. However, in our passage for this week, we are encouraged to remember that everything we do sends a message to our Lord.

Every thought, every word, and every deed works to form our spirit. When we live in His name, even in the most insignificant moments, our spirit is formed to continue the pattern. The opposite is also true. When we don’t live in His name, especially when we choose to sin, it forms our spirit to follow the wrong pattern. Each word, every thought, and all of our actions are moving us nearer to Him or dragging us away. We live inside a constant game of tug-of-war, as the Holy Spirit pulls against the temptations of this world and our own evil desires. It is a never-ending game until we enter the gates of Heaven.

Our flesh, operating in sinful ways, can easily win this battle. The Holy Spirit does not force us. But He does pull us with great kindness and compassion, as our evil desires may win the battle but also unknowingly pull us into a great pit of death. The more often we yield to Him, the more He pulls us further into His holiness and love, increasing our desire to please Him.

Each thing we do matters. Every thought we have matters. And every action we take has significance. So, in all things, we must surrender to the Lord so we are pulled toward Him rather than the pit of death behind us.

Prayer: Lord, let my gratitude surrender my will to do all things in Your name. And may You pull me deeper into Your goodness. Amen