My thoughts first turn to one of my favorite verses (Colossians 3:17) from my favorite book (check my facebook, it's the Bible people). Paul says here that: "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." This verse is incredibly comforting to me as I consider that each and every action and sound (“word and deed”) that I make has eternal significance as I have committed my life to Jesus Christ. There is no area of my life that is outside of those bounds. As I desire Jesus Christ to be my leader and to be central in my life, He forms my life into submission to his will.
So, there’s the theory, how does that work in reality? I believe that when I look at the verses following verse 17 (3:18-4:6) in Colossians 3, I get the clear answer to that question. It’s my actions and words as a wife (not applicable), husband, child, father, worker, and boss that have eternal significance.
So now I’ll do a spiritual check-up of my week in each of these areas.
As a husband I’ve loved my wife by making breakfast, taking time to talk each evening, making love, leading prayer and devotions at the table, telling her she’s beautiful, praying and being in an accountability group so that that God would continue to give me the strength to “rejoice in the wife of (my) youth,” (Ps. 5:18) and only look at her with sexual longing.
As a child I’ve honored and respected my parents this week. I believe that I am no longer under their authority, but I am to honor them by helping them if they are in need and conversing with them to know what they need.
As a Father, this week, I’ve encouraged my children to swim to the best of their abilities. I’ve led them in studies of the Good Samaritan and kingdom of heaven, making sure that they understand their call as Christians to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I’ve prayed daily with them that they would grow up to be godly men and women. As I do each week, I took one day to be with my family and enjoy one another. I’ve talked through fights and helped my kids to understand their roles as each other’s best friends.
As a worker I’ve made sure to spend at least 40 hours in “job related” activity. I’ve had a good attitude at all times and in all things I’ve been called to do.
As a boss I’ve talked to a person about their decisions and the fact that God gave them a second chance by not having to pay the clear consequences of their actions. I prayed with this person and gave them resources to work on their identity in Christ first and foremost in their life. I’ve also exposed three students to the needs of youth in our community who have been kicked out of home through visiting and helping at “Rod’s House.” I cast a vision for the beauty of understanding that God has chosen each of them. After watching “The Adjustment Bureau” With 15 High Schoolers we talked about the falsehoods of that movie and highlighted the truth (also found in the movie) of a God who is in control and who has created a purposeful universe.
Those are some of the highlights from my week. If you want to know how all this happened, follow me to Colossians 4:2-6. You see, I have “devoted my life to prayer.” Through Christ’s strength I am “watchful, and thankful.” As a Christian, I believe that every ounce of energy, truth, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that I have comes through the Spirit of Christ who lives in me.
Now does this mean that I think I’m perfect? Absolutely not! I’m answering the question of what I did last week that had eternal significance. If you want to hear what I did that was temporal you need to rephrase the question.
Well, that’s all for now. I need to get back to email . . . in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
-Bob Nass
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