Page Four: “Doing All You Do In The Name of Christ” 7/14/13
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First, God is interested, concerned, and observing every part of your life. God, as you know is omniscient. This means He knows everything and He sees everything.
Second, each of us will have to give an account to the LORD for everything we say and do. Third, every part of your life is affected by your relationship to Jesus Christ. Fourth, you are here on planet earth to bring glory to God. Fifth, give thanks. Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Isn’t it interesting that of all the things we can do quote “in the name of the LORD Jesus,” this is the thing that God qualifies it with – “giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” Did you know that every time you give thanks you glorify God? I Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” What are you giving thanks to God today for? It is God’s way for you to give Him thanks in everything. Can you see that that’s His will for you and me? It sure is easy for us to give thanks to the LORD when things are going well for us. But shouldn’t you also give thanks to Him when they aren’t? And shouldn’t you also sense how God must feel when people don’t bring Him thanks and glory for all that He is? Have you ever wondered how God responds when people refuse to thank and glorify Him? I have a letter here; written by a seventeen year old girl who had lived a very wicked life and a Pastor had shown her the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Pastor then gave her a Bible. Immediately this young lady packed up all her things and returned to her home. She wrote this letter just a few months after returning to her home. See if she doesn’t have a good understanding of how important thanks and glory are to the LORD. "I hope everything is well with you. I have really begun to put things together in the Bible. By reading the Old Testament, I have been able to see how God deserves much more recognition than He's getting." "I can see how He gave people so many chances and how they continued to break His heart by worshipping idols and sinning. God wanted the Israelites to sacrifice lambs, goats, oxen, and things like that as an atonement to Him for sin. He is God, after all, and He had to have some payment for the trouble and the sins of men. To think that God actually talked and was in the visible presence of these people, and yet they kept on complaining and sinning... |
Listen...I can almost feel the unbearable sadness that God feels when someone rejects and doesn't glorify Him. He's God! He made us. He gave us everything. We continue to doubt and reject Him. It's awful. When I think of how I hurt Him, I hope I can someday make it up."
"I have a soft spot in my heart for God. I can feel His jealousy now when I see people worshipping idols and other gods. It's all so clear to me that God must be glorified and worshipped. He deserves it, and it's long overdue. I can't wait to just tell Jesus and, thus, God indirectly, that I love Him and just kiss the ground He walks on, because He should be worshipped. I want God to be God and take His rightful place. I'm tired of the way people put Him down." [Found on www.gty.org by Dr. John MacArthur]. First, God is interested, concerned, and observing every part of your life. Second, each of us will have to give an account to the LORD for everything we say and do. Third, every part of your life is affected by your relationship to Jesus Christ. Fourth, you are here on planet earth to bring glory to God. Fifth, give thanks. So, what will you do this week to glorify Him? To thank Him? To let your light shine so that people glorify Him? Will you go out this week and do what He has commanded you to do? Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” First, though you must surrender yourself to the LORD. Him. II Corinthians 8:5 “…but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.” Then, look to the Holy Spirit to enable you to obey Him. He will provide you with the power to obey. Let Him lead you as you serve people this week. Pray this prayer of surrender each day this week. Make it yours. Pray it throughout the day. “LORD, right now I submit all that I am and have to you; my spirit, my soul, my body, my time, possessions. Do with me whatever is the most pleasing to You. Work out Your blessed will upon me today. Amen.” Shall we pray? |