Col 3:17: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus…”

Col3:23 “Whatever you do, do from the heart as for the Lord and not for others.”

I have been reflecting on these words lately. When you think about them, they are not just wise advice, but they can turn into a beautiful gift to give God. When we do something for ourselves or for others, we may be willing to settle for mediocre performance, especially if you are tired or not up to the task that day.

However, imagine if everything we did was a small gift to God, a token of our appreciation of His great love for us. If we were to prepare a gift for God, it would have to be our best. How beautiful would the world be! Our neighbors would be loved more, peace would grow more, the poor would be less poor, and God’s creatures would be nurtured more.

I often look to Pope Francis as an example of living out this scripture. If we watch him, we see that everything he does is with full effort, despite his illnesses.

Give God Your All Pope Francis

 

He doesn’t preach half truth and half of what we want to hear. No! He gives it his all. Each of us should “give it our all” with our works for God. We do a better job when it is for Him and not just for ourselves.

For example, when I answered God’s call to start My Light Magazine, I wasn’t even sure what I was doing. What I did know was God called me to do this. I blindly said, “Here I am Lord,” and asked for His providence along the way.

Give God Your All cover

It has not been easy and we constantly change and evolve. We are fully dependent on volunteers. So many times I was tempted to give up. And if My Light was for me and my glory I would have given up. However, it was not for me. It was for God’s glory and His children in need of His word. Giving up was not an option. When you do something for God, you have to give it your all.

So before you go to work, or write that article, or nurture your family, remind yourself who you are doing this for. Yes, you are doing this for your family, but also for God. We are His hands in this world. For that reason alone, we must give it our all. Then, when we are done in this world, we have faith that we’ll hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Copyright 2014, Jennifer Gladen