“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” (Col. 3:17). This adds an important touch to our being in Christ. We have emphasized the receptive side of being in Christ—and that is right for you are primarily receptive. But the receptivity turns into activity. “And whatever you do”—you are to do as well as to receive and be. The being can only be manifested by the doing, and here the doing has a definite characteristic: you do “everything in the name of the Lord Jesus.” You do everything as representing Him; you do it in His name, in His stead, in His spirit.
In Christ your actions not only manifest you, they manifest Christ. People judge Him by you. Years ago in India I was going along a country road on a bicycle. A cowherd boy in a field called to another, “ Yisu Masih ka admi ja raha hai ”—“the Jesus Christ man is going along.” I was startled; I felt like getting down from my bicycle and dropping on my knees in prayer that I might not be unfaithful to the village boys who saw in me a “Jesus Christ man.” We are all just that; we do everything in His name, if we are professedly His. His name goes up or down with our representation. We are the only Bible some people read.
This doing everything in the name of Jesus is not a point of terror and tension, lest we misrepresent Him. It is a point of confidence and assurance. I do this, not in my name and my power, but in His name and therefore with His power. “In the name of Jesus Christ rise up and walk.” In His name there is power, final power. If we go forth humbly in His name we can expect His power to attend that name. When we come in His name we represent His power at work in the world. We belong to the name before which every knee shall bow. Then we go not as cringers, but as conquerors.
Dear Father, we do give thanks to Thee through Him. We go representing Him as He came representing Thee. Keep our words and our deeds as clear instruments of His glory. When we speak, may He speak too. In His name. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: Unless my receptivity becomes activity, it ceases to be receptivity—the inflow stops when there is no outflow.
