Col 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Col 3:12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience ; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone ; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body ; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved" The verses below are address not to everyone, but to the Church. Not a denomination, but to all whom God has called to a saving knowledge of him. We're not to judge the world by scripture. The world will act like the world. It's the church that has a higher calling and a higher standard.

"put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience ;" I don't know about you, but this list right here goes against the grain of everything I want to do. These are traits that are not gifted at salvation. These are "fruits" that we must work on in the power of the Holy Spirit. Galations 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galations 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Some will come easy. Some take a life time.

"bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone ; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. " Have you ever noticed that humans are tough to get along with? Some of them are such a pain you want to remove them from the gene pool. Some days the "till death do us part" in our vows looks like a great idea. Yet we are commanded to forgive and we are to forgive as the Lord forgives. I've been told I share too much of my shortcomings when giving testimony so I will just say that I've been forgiven much. I've been forgiven completely. My past will never be brought up again.
"Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us." Head east or head west. The two directions never meet. So too will we never meet our sins again.

"To forgive means "to give up all claims to punish or exact a penalty for an offense." No strings or conditions can be attached, or else it ceases to be a pardon." -Charles Stanley However too many Christian's equate forgiveness with trust or reconciliation. If a spouse should cheat you must forgive without condition. However trusting said spouse and welcoming them back into the home or marriage bed takes time. Forgiving them and giving up your "right" to punish them is the first step toward reconciliation. Their commitment to you and choosing not to cheat again is where trust is once again earned.

"Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity." Love is what held Christ to the cross. It was not the nails. Were we to focus on that truth the next time we're fighting for our "rights", I think we'd shut up real fast.

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body ; and be thankful." This verse immediately bring to mind another. Philipians 4: 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Twice in scripture, perhaps even more, God's peace is tied to thankfulness. Paul goes on in this same chapter 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength. We must realize that God is in control. We must be grateful for what we have. Then peace and contentment will be ours. We will never find it by perusing what the world desires.

" Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." Study the Word. I am amazed of how much of God's word he has brought to me while doing this small study and once again I am reminded of yet another passage. 2 Peter 1:3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. It is only through our study of Scripture that we can know the promises of God. And it is through those promises that we get everything we need for "life and godliness".

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father." This should be every Christians life verse. This one verse is the one the kicked me into this study. It's the one that made me rethink my plans on this Saturday morning.

The name of Christ is my motive today. May that be said everyday.