Colossians 3:17 – Whatever You Do

Colossians 3:17
¹⁷And 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.

This is an exciting verse when you understand what Paul is saying. He has already prefaced this verse with the previous 7 verses starting in verse 10 where he states because you are a new person through the finished work of Jesus and therefore you should have a renewed image of yourself. He then shows us how this renewed image lives in verses 12-16.

Now in verse 17, he wraps it all up by simply saying whatever you do, whether with words or deeds, do it with love and grace in your hearts. We don’t have to try to dissect the meaning and wonder if it means I act in love and grace if I’m just making dinner or washing my car or working diligently at my job. Whatever you do. DO is an action word, a verb. It shows action. The action can mean to execute or deal with, to keep, observe, make or work. Can whatever you do be done in the name of Jesus? Yes! When you factor in being grateful for all that Jesus provided for you at the Cross, you can do whatever you need to do with an attitude of thanksgiving and praise.

Your doing includes but is not limited to just your words, but also your reasoning, your speech, your mouth (what you say). Whatever you do in word OR deed. King James Version uses the Greek word ergo for deed referring to work, labor—doing.

The new you, transformed by the blood of Jesus, has been renewed. As you work this out in your daily life, you must realize it includes renewing your doing as well as your thinking. Too often believers know their lives have been transformed (saved) but they fail to carry the power of the Cross into transforming their thinking according to God’s love and grace. It’s important to eliminate stinkin’ thinking that limits and demands you walk in newness of life in your own power. It’s all about what Jesus has already done for you and I so let’s be led by God’s love and grace in our renewed thinking and doing.