Whatever You Do
The Bible is filled with instructions for Christian life. The most voluminous section in many Christian bookstores is the Christian living section. When the apostle Paul wrote his epistles, living the Christian life was contemporaneously prominent with understanding one’s position “in Christ.” We are human beings, but human beings do things. Paul would often open his letters with the blessing of being identified with Christ, and then he would expound on “the doing” part of the Christian life.
If you have spent any amount of time studying God’s Word, you are probably overwhelmed with all the things you are supposed to do: care for the widow and orphan; walk in a manner worthy of your calling; be anxious for nothing; flee immorality; pray without ceasing; give yourself to the apostles’ teachings; resist the devil; abstain from evil; do not be drunk with wine; work with your hands; bear one another’s burdens; etc. So many “how to” books, explaining the seemingly endless litany of things to do, and there is not really one statement on what to do first or do most. Or is there?
Jesus left instructions with His disciples on what to do first and most, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (Jn 13:34–35).”
Paul wrote to the Colossians telling them to put off the old self and put on the new self, which includes putting on love (Col 3:14). After giving a brief explication of attributes depicting this lifestyle, Paul made a key statement, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father (Col 3:17).” There seems to be an elixir here called “options.” In other words, we cannot do all of the things prescribed in the Bible all the time. “What you do” has numerous possibilities; but “how you do it” is a bit more limited. There are some helpful lessons in this summation passage. Let us consider some ideas.
First, Christians are going to speak and do things. Good works were prepared for us from before the foundation of the world (Eph 2:10). James taught that we are to be doers of the Word (Jas 4:6). Letting the Word of Christ richly dwell in us will keep those things we are supposed to do very fresh in one’s heart and mind. Our diligent labors (1 Thess 5:3) are labors of love (1 Thess 1:3) as unto the Lord. Christians should have a reputation of good works (1 Tim 5:10), and our good works will fill the air around us with the fragrance of Christ (2 Cor 2:15). People will know us, and men will give glory to God for these good deeds (Mt 5:16).
We already noted how many possible things there are to do, so is there a priority on love’s task list? Jesus taught in His sermon on the mount, “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (Mt 6:33),” and we know God is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6). Jesus also warned the people, one cannot serve God and money (Mt 6:24). In truth, Christ set us free from bondage to sin, so we could love and serve Him (Heb 9:14), and in love, serve one another (Gal 5:13). Serving God is what Christians do, and we do all things with the heart motive of love.
Second, how we serve God, matters to God. This is the crux of Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians 13. God may have gifted you in amazing ways, but your gold, silver, and precious stoned work turns to wood, hay, and straw, if it is not done in the right way (1 Cor 3:12). Paul explained to Timothy, “But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith (1 Tim 1:5).” Love never fails when it is the motive behind everything we do (1 Cor 13:8). God is love, and He lives in us. We love because He first brought His love, that is, Himself, into us (Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 5:5;1 Jn 4:19). Love is performing His perfect work in our hearts (Gal 2:20; Phil 2:13).
Is there a love framework, giving us helpful boundaries? Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things (Phil 4:8).” Here is the litmus test for us to examine our good words and works in serving God and others.
Run this interesting test. Is it true? Christ is true (Jn 14:6). Is it honorable? Christ is honorable (Rev 4:11). Is it right? Christ is right (1 Jn 2:1). Is it pure? Christ is pure (1 Jn 3:3). Is it lovely? Christ is lovely (Ps 135:3). Is it of good repute? Christ is at His Father’s right hand (Col 3:1). Is it excellent? Christ has a more excellent name (Heb 1:4). Is it worthy of praise? Christ is worthy of praise (Rev 4:11). So, if God is love, and Christ is God, and Christ is in us, then our ultimate priority is to submit to the Spirit of the Lord. We dwell on the things of Christ because His Spirit dwells in us, keeping us focused on Jesus.
Third, Christ is in us, by His Spirit, willing and doing His good pleasure. Much of Christian teaching gives instructions for believers to do this and not do that, which is reminiscent of Israel’s life under the Law of Moses. In their own power, Israel could not attain obedience to God. What Israel did fell short of the glory of God (Rom 2). The promise of the New Testament was for God’s Spirit to dwell in His people (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11).
How do we do that which is pleasing to God? We submit to His Sovereign Spirit, trusting Him to live the life obedient faith in us and through us. Should we keep the moral law? Yes. Can we keep the moral law in our own fleshly power? No. Can the Holy Spirit keep the moral law? Yes. Is the Holy Spirit in you to will the moral law and do it? The Christian answers affirmatively. It is the Spirit who causes us to walk in God’s statutes (Ezek 36:27).
With the Holy Spirit at work in us, do Christians keep the moral law? Not perfectly. In God’s decree and providence, His executed plan for our lives, He has opted for progressive sanctification. Could God have designed salvation, so glorification occurred immediately at conversion? Yes. Did He? No. His design is for us to be justified, declared, “not guilty.” Like newborn babes, adopted into a new family, we must grow up into our new royal family identity. Our obedience to the moral law comes by faith, not works, not of ourselves. We are trusting Christ to bring us into compliance.
We are trusting He will author and perfect our life of faith (Heb 12:2). It is the Spirit who gives life (Jn 6:63), and Christ is our life (Col 3:4). He is accomplishing what concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8). By the Spirit of Christ, we are being led, taught, helped, comforted, disciplined, etc. His promise is to complete the good work He has begun in us (Phil 1:6). Therefore, whatever you do…do this, “yield yourselves unto God (Rom 6:13).” The Christian life simply cannot be lived in our own power or with our own agenda. Our plans are not His plans, and our ways are not His ways. We must yield, first and foremost.
Finally, God’s standard and purpose, in the Spirit, is Christ-likeness. We are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). He is causing us to walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4). Where are we going? We are headed home to glory. Which is the way? Jesus Christ is the more excellent way (Jn 14:6; 1 Cor 12:31). The Spirit guides us in following Jesus, and He knows the best way for each one of us.
Like millions of little creeks, leading to rivers and then larger rivers that end in the ocean, so we are all coming from different families, places, life circumstances, etc. Jesus is the river of living water drawing us to Himself and guiding us to an ocean of glory. As we yield our lives to God, we know our ultimate destination. The Spirit keeps us moving closer and closer to Christ. We are in Him (1 Cor 1:30), and He is in us (Rom 8:9, 11).
So “whatever you do” really means, “whatever He is doing in you, with you yielding to Him.” Do it all in the name of the Lord. In all your ways, acknowledge Him by name, and He will direct your steps (Prv 3:5–6). Trust in the Lord, always, and lean not on your own understanding. Examine yourself in these things.
Paul said, “I have learned to be content (Phil 4:11).” This means, he learned to trust God, to fully rely on God in every situation. Some circumstances he abounded in, and in some, he was brought low in some way. Paul pressed on toward the mark (Phil 3:14), of the high calling in Christ Jesus because he, too, had the promises, “I will never leave you nor forsake you (Heb 13:5)” and “Lo, I am with you to the end of the age (Mt 28:20).”
What is there left to do? Give thanks (Col 3:17c). Do something. Do something in the name of the one who is guiding you to do it, and then, give thanks. Yes, in everything, give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess 5:18). When we give thanks, we are acknowledging that everything comes from the Lord (Rom 11:36). Providence will have its perfect work. God’s purpose has been established, and He will accomplish His good pleasure (Is 46:10). This is what it means to enter His rest (Heb 4:3), to learn to be content, to trust Him, to yield to Him. This is what we do and how we do it.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
March 1, 2021
