Everything in the name of Jesus
Christ’s message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct one another with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts. Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father. (verses 16,17)
Read Colossians 3:12-17
Each year for us is different. Each year brings new challenges, new worries and concerns, new hopes and new relationships. But the one relationship above all others that is constant is the one we have with Jesus. At least he never changes. His love and care for us never change. At the end of the year you can be assured that he will still love you and care for you as much as he did when you were made his in your baptism.
The trouble is, we often change. On our part the relationship may grow weak. In the busyness of life other things crowd Jesus out. Our thoughts, words and actions are so full of the things relating to the daily grind of life, or with our obsessions, that we don’t spend much time thinking of our relationship with Jesus. This word of God for today calls us to reverse the situation and to make sure that Jesus is given pride of place in our thinking, speaking and doing.
Begin the day by allowing God’s word to enter and live in your heart. A daily reading from God’s word is a wonderful start for the day. Then try to summarise, remember and meditate on the main point of the reading. Another way to help God’s word to sink into your heart is to sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. And, even more important, fill your heart with thanksgiving to God. Face each day with thankfulness, and constantly express your thankfulness to God in your silent prayers and in your words and actions.
Ever-loving, ever-present Jesus, thank you for today and for the life and opportunities each day gives. Help me to live so that at the end of each day I can still be thankful. Amen.
By Kevin Schmidt, in “God’s Peace for each day” (LCA, Openbook Publishers (2005)
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