Colossians 3:12-17 MSG So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. 15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
Colossians 3:17 NIVAnd 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.
Observation
Paul wrote the Colossian letter in response to false teachers who were denying the divinity of Christ and substituting legalism (Jewish tradition) and “philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men” (vs 2:8) to adulterate the truth. Whether these false teachers were preaching salvation through special works or special knowledge, Paul again reminded the church that in Jesus “dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and you are complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power.” Vs 2:9). So, Paul then encourages them to let (decide, determine) to embrace the peace of Jesus which will keep you and let (allow to dwell) the Word of Christ have its way in you.
These verses are about choices we are encouraged to make. Be thankful, kind, humble, meek (quiet strength), compassionate, disciplined, forgiving, loving. We can only choose to live like this if we choose to give Jesus and His Word the “run of the house”. This requires submitting to His will and purposes in our lives – whether that brings us to easy places or difficult ones and most certainly will require some sacrifice. Paul is writing this during his imprisonment as a witness to the fact that we can’t let circumstances determine whether we have peace nor how we respond to what happens to us. We are to at all times and in all circumstances, “wear love,” choosing to let Jesus live full, wide and deep in us so that our lives will demonstrate true peace, joy and love to those around us.
Impact on Me
So, “let” is something I determine or allow. It is my choice to have my way or let the Lord have His way in me. The word “let” always jumps off the page for me since I realized that I make the choice to do or not do so, to say “yes” or “no” to Jesus. I will be responsible for the choices I make. It will not determine my salvation, but it will determine how much peace, contentment, soul-satisfaction, joy and love I experience in this life. If I am unforgiving, I am on a path to bitterness and hatred – thieves of peace, contentment, joy and love. If I am ungrateful, negative and complaining, I will never be satisfied with what I have and become greedy and envious of what others have – another no joy place.
It is in the Jesus ordained choices I make that I find that peace. It is in submitting to the will and purpose of God – wherever I am and in whatever condition – I will be able to be an instrument in His hand to accomplish His long-term goals – fulfilling my part in His plan from the foundations of the Earth. The bottom line is to let (allow) God to be sovereign and for me to be content in whatever assignment I am given – easy or difficult, blessing or sacrifice, comfortable or uncomfortable. “Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”
Prayer
Lord God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Eternal Father, You deserve all the glory, honor and praise of all creation. You gave so much to give me the opportunity to be restored in relationship to You so that I might be saved, redeemed, changed, used by You as a witness. I want to always say “yes” to You – without conditions or reservations. Holy Spirit, I give You free rein to work in me, to change me, to lead me in making the choices to let Christ live fully, deeply and completely in me and through me. Make it so, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Pressing On In His Footsteps 