Everything You Do

And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Colossians 3:17 

 

Did you realize that if you claim to be a Christian you are under a great scrutiny?  Believe it or not, as a Christian, when you go to a restaurant people will look to see if you are generous or cheap.  People will notice if you are given too much change at the store and whether or not you keep it.  People, for some reason, seem to look for reasons to shout to the world that Christians are evil because Christians aren't perfect.

 

But that's people.  And people are people.  

 

Christians are expected to reflect the love of Christ in everything they say and everything they do.  That is a tall order.  It's an even taller order in a world where any perceived imperfection is pointed out and broadcast.

 

I like the way that Paul reminds us to act with gratitude, regardless of what others say: "WHATEVER you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus."  He doesn't say, in some things.  He declares that we are to strive to be so grateful that whatever we do reflects the love of Christ.  

 

This is one of the many things I struggle with.  When people aren't grateful, I am expected to be grateful.  When people are disrespectful, I am expected to be respectful.  When people are hateful, I am expected to be loving.  It is a true struggle, but when we focus our hearts on God, and remember that we work for Him...we don't fail as often.