Monday the 29th

Colossians 3: 17

¹⁷And 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.

People often say that they do not know how to pray, or that they do not know how to be a good Christian. They speak as if there is a specific equation, or a road map to guarantee they are on the right path. Many think there is a long list of rules that must be followed, and if they deviate from the list, if they make a mistake they have to go back to square one. Here Paul gives the long exhaustive list, here we see just how complicated a Christian life can be. Paul has broken it down to the simplest form in this scripture. Do everything in the name of Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God through him. In word, and deed, seek to emulate Christ, remembering to give thanks to God for all that you have. It is not complicated, it is rather simple. Man, with the help of the devil, has made it complicated. Living a life dedicated to Christ is not like on the game shows were the contestant is walking across a plank. If they fall off, they have to run all the way back to the beginning. They keep going back to the start of the race until they get it right on one pass. We are not like that in our relationship with Christ. We are going to fall off the plank. At some point we will transgress. We are human, and we are imperfect. All you have to do is recognize you fell off the plank, and then get back on to continue the journey. When we put Christ first in our lives, when we make his way our way, and his life our road map, then we see that many of the complications of this worldly life fall away. We see that it is through the grace of God we are saved, not an exhaustive rule book. It is by Christ’s sacrifice that we each have been freed of sin……and we are free, each one of us. Free from the shackles of this world. Free to live in the name of the Lord, giving thanks to God for that freedom, giving thanks to God for that sacrifice he made. Strip away the years of confusion that have been heaped upon you. Live for Christ, he is the only playbook you need. It is not complicated, Christ did not come to cause struggle, he came to bring salvation. Do it all for the Lord, and give thanks to God.

May the Lord bless and keep you,

Brian