In the name of the Lord

Colossians 3:17 (ESV)

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The other day I heard someone ask another person, "What do you do?" The person answered by saying, "Oh, I'm just a housewife." Perhaps you too have heard someone say, "I'm just a farmer," or "I'm just a secretary," or "I'm just a factory worker," or "I'm just a country preacher." In any culture we have our rankings, and our sense of worth is often measured by the work we do. The more impressive your career, the more "important" you are. Celebrities especially get lots of attention when something happens in their lives.

Thankfully the Bible does not measure our worth by how high we have climbed the social ladder or how much education we have. In today's verse we read, "Whatever you do . . . do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus." When life on earth comes to an end, what matters is not how high we climbed, but whether we were faithful to the Lord in whatever calling we pursued. What counts is whether we clothed ourselves with compassion, humility, patience, and other fruitful signs of Christ's work in our lives.

My Dad was in the Navy and worked for Ford Motor Company. He was faithful in his calling, and he served the Lord as he raised our family. Whatever he did, he did it in the name of the Lord. And that's what counts!

Dear Lord, make each one of us faithful in our calling, and help us to do all things “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” In the Name od Jesus I pray, Amen.