SERVING GOD IN 2025 – RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (2)

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17. NKJV).

God created humans to be like Him so that they could work in partnership with Him. Every human being is therefore fashioned to be a responsible steward not only of the gifts and talents God has bestowed on him but also to add value to creation (Genesis 2:19). Thus, we can boldly assert that we are created and gifted to serve God on earth. To facilitate our service delivery in keeping with the standard approved in heaven, God has provided us some rules of engagement . Someone had correctly observed that “the main object of all life, speculative or practical, is declared to be, not our own happiness or perfection, not the good of our fellow humans, but the “glory of God”—the carrying out of His will and so manifesting His moral attributes.” This core reason of our being provides the foundation for the directive of our text: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” This rule of engagement provides us with the first general principle of godly life. The phrase “in the name of the Lord Jesus” requires us to do whatever we do as conformed to the image of Jesus Christ, playing the role of His representatives. ‬‬‬

God created humans to be like Him so that they could work in partnership with Him.

As Christians, our actions must reflect those of Christ. Since He is tabernacled in us, our responsibility is to allow Him to act through us. He died for us and as us so we can live for Him and as Him. To this end, our thoughts, words and action should always represent His, “because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17). We must aim at being so conformed to Him that it would be said of each of us as it was said of Him. “That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:19). As the Father acted through Christ while He lived on earth, so should Christ act through us now. The Holy Spirit is here in us and with us to demonstrate the thoughts, words and acts of Christ through us. The overarching goal of the Holy Spirit is to glorify Jesus. John explained, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you” (John 16:13-14). If you yield to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, you will serve like Christ this year.

The goal of Christian service is to glorify the Father through Jesus, that is to do all things in His name. Peter explained, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 4:11). Jesus is our standard and nobody else. He is the one we should all copy not anybody else. The Bible declares of Him: “He has done all things well” (Mark 7:37). What a model! You may be wondering in your hearts, how are we ever able to accomplish this? Here is God’s council: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3). You were raised with Christ when you believed in His death and resurrection. This is a state you enter into by faith. The other thing required of you is to seek the things above and you do this by setting your mind on pleasing Christ at all times in every situation in Jesus’ name.