Truth That Transforms — Part 1
Scripture: Colossians 3:17, 23
Truth isn’t meant to remain something we simply hear. It’s meant to transform the way we live.
As believers, we should desire not only to know God’s Word but to allow it to shape our everyday lives. What we believe should make a difference in how we treat others, how we approach our responsibilities, how we conduct ourselves at work, and how we live within our own homes.
Sometimes we look at serving God as something separate from our everyday responsibilities. We think about ministry, church, or opportunities to do something significant for the Kingdom. But some of the most meaningful opportunities to honor God are found right in the ordinary moments of our lives.
There’s a song by Steven Curtis Chapman called Do Everything that came to mind as I was thinking about this subject. It’s a song about all the little things we do every single day. From household chores, to a mother taking care of her children, to a man going off to work or children going to school. The message is simple: Whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.
It’s easy sometimes to think that the menial things of life really don’t matter too much. I would suggest that they matter quite a bit, because our everyday lives are what help shape who we are.
Do we sometimes look at people in positions such as government leaders, CEOs of companies, lawyers, doctors, and others and think that what they do is somehow more important? Sure, what they do is important. That’s where they’ve been placed, and we need people doing those jobs because they help keep the world going around, so to speak.
But I would suggest that wherever you’re placed, and wherever I’m placed, we should strive to do our very best. Not simply to be the best at what we do, but to do it with a heart that honors God.
Think about Daniel in the Old Testament. When he and his friends were taken into Babylon, they were placed in a culture very different from the one they had known. They were offered the king’s food and wine, but Daniel made a decision not to defile himself with the king’s portion. He asked that they be given vegetables to eat and water to drink instead.
After ten days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than those who had eaten the king’s food. But Daniel’s story didn’t end there.
The Bible tells us that Daniel distinguished himself because he had an excellent spirit. He was a man of integrity, wisdom, and faithfulness. God gave him understanding and the ability to interpret dreams and visions. Even in a foreign land, Daniel remained faithful to God, and that faithfulness was evident in the way he lived.
I believe there’s something we can learn from Daniel’s example. It wasn’t just about the position he held or the extraordinary things God allowed him to do. It was also about the kind of person he was.
You and I may never hold a position of great influence in the eyes of the world. We may not be recognized for the work we do or receive much appreciation for the responsibilities we carry. But that doesn’t mean what we do is insignificant.
Whether we’re loving our families, going to work, serving in ministry, helping a neighbor, or simply taking care of the responsibilities in front of us, we have an opportunity to honor God.
Colossians 3:17 says:
“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.”
And verse 23 goes on to say:
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”
What a wonderful reminder that our service to God isn’t limited to what we do inside the church. It’s reflected in how we live our lives every single day.
So, as you go about everything you do today, remember that when you do it as unto the Lord, He sees you. He knows you better than anyone else, and He loves you more than you can possibly imagine.
There’s no love like the love of God.
“And we love him, because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19
Until next time, family, be blessed!
