Daily Devotions

Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Current Study: Living Life to the Fullest         

Today’s Topic: New Year’s Resolution

Today’s Scripture:   Colossians 3:17  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.

Well, I haven’t had a chance to say this to you yet, so here goes – HAPPY NEW YEAR! We had a great trip to see our parents out in the Dakotas, and ended it with a trip to the Metrodome to watch the NFC North Divisional Champion Minnesota Vikings play their first playoff game. What an electrifying atmosphere. Yeah, we lost, but at least we were there.

As we begin this new year, I want to share with you my New Year’s resolution. I do this because I want you to hold me accountable to it. This year I resolve to live out the command of Colossians 3:17. I challenge you to do the same.

Last night, prior to our  Elder meeting at church, I ordered some take-out Chinese food. I asked for extra mushrooms in my chicken and snow pea order. When I dumped the pint container of sauce onto the rice, I counted three mushrooms. My first response was a disgusted “Oh man!” I immediately caught myself and confessed that sin to the Lord. I then began thanking Him for the meal I was about to eat. I had already failed at fulfilling my resolution. But growth is a process. One step at a time I will become more thankful, and my life will become more honoring to the Lord Jesus Christ in all areas.

As I asked the Lord to change me according to Colossians 3:17, He drew my attention to three words in the exact middle of the verse. Those words are in the name. What does that mean? When we pray in the name of Jesus, what does that really mean? When we are commanded to do and speak all things in the name of the Lord Jesus, what does that mean? It means far more than just stating the name of Jesus at the end of a prayer. Understanding it begins with knowing that a name is a representation of someone. The name itself is just a word, but what that name represents gives it meaning. So when we say or do anything in the name of someone, those words or actions become of a reflection of what we believe to be true about that person. Make sure you fully understand the significance of that last statement.  Here’s what God taught me as I sought to understand it. It was so significant that I wrote it in the margin of my Bible. It’s an acrostic of the word NAME.

                        Nature

                        Attributes

                        Mission

                        Exaltation

Whatever I do, whatever I say, and whatever I pray, is to be according to the nature of Jesus, the attributes of Jesus, the mission of Jesus, and the exaltation of Jesus. Every activity of my life, every word I speak to others, and every prayer I pray to God is to be a reflection of what I believe to be true about Jesus Christ. For this to be true about me, I must be willing to continually ask myself some penetrating questions.

• Does this word or activity support my belief that Jesus, in His very nature, is God? Does this word or activity reflect my belief in His sovereignty (He is in control)? His omnipresence (He is everywhere always)? His omniscience (He is all-knowing)? His omnipotence (He is all-powerful)? His immutability (He is unchanging)?
• Does this word or activity support my belief in the attributes of Jesus? Does this word or activity comply with His holiness? His righteousness? His love and compassion? His truth? His grace? His mercy?
• Does this word or activity support my understanding of the mission to which I have been called in Christ Jesus? Does this word or activity represent the Gospel message of the transforming power of Jesus Christ to change my life? Does this word or activity present an opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus with another person? To make a disciple? To teach others to obey Jesus? To encourage and build up a brother or sister in Christ?
• Does this word or activity exalt the name of Jesus? Does this word or activity reflect a surrendered heart to the will of God for my life? Does this word or activity draw attention to me or to Jesus? Does this word or activity glorify God?

Over the next few days we will spend some time on each of those four areas and discover some practical applications of these truths to our everyday lives. But before we do that, each one of us must decide if we are going to take this command seriously. Are we prepared, in the critical year of 2009, to live our lives as representations of the Name of Jesus Christ? Are we ready, at any and all cost, to say and do everything in our lives according to what we know to be true about Jesus? And will we do it with thanks to God for the privilege of knowing and serving Him? My prayer is that you will join me in resolving to live this way. If so, let me know, so I can hold you accountable too.

Pastor John