Colossians 3:23 - “And whatsoever ye do, so it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”

The letter to the Colossians was written by the apostle Paul during his first imprisonment in Rome, around AD 60-61. Paul received a report that the Colossian church was grappling with christological heresy or a formal denial of the Christian faith because of beliefs contrary to what is found in the Bible. The report came from Epaphras, likely the leader of the church of Colossae and a convert from his extensive ministry in Ephesus.

The epistle to the Colossians speaks with remarkable relevancy to our modern age, where we see a world influenced by human philosophies, technological advancements, and the rise of the New Age movement. This letter addresses critical issues. The New Age movement, though seemingly novel, has its roots in ancient occult practices and Eastern religions. It promotes religious syncretism, rejecting the biblical revelation of God in Christ. Colossians confronts these ideas and emphasizes the supremacy of Christ.

Specifically, Colossians 3:23 encourages a specific group of people: bondservants (slaves) serving their earthly masters. In the Roman world of the first century, bondservants had no rights or justice. Despite their circumstances, they are called to approach their work with diligence and wholeheartedness. The motivation is not merely earthly, but for the Lord - an issue of character and reverence for God.

In the Old Testament, giving one’s best to the Almighty is applying the principle of firstfruits which was central to worship. God instructed His people to bring the first and best portion of their harvest as offerings an indicated in Leviticus 23:10. This applies to us too, in our journey of faith for we encounter moments when we must pause and reflect. Have we truly offered our best to God? Whether it’s our time, our talents, resources, or worship, God desires our wholehearted devotion. Whether in our careers, our ministries, our family responsibilities, or daily tasks, we honor God by pursuing excellence.

Giving our best to God is a beautiful journey of the heart and soul. Begin by surrendering our heart to God. Acknowledge His sovereignty and trust that He knows what’s best for us. Let go of self-reliance and allow Him to guide our life. We serve and praise the Lord together.

The song says, “Everything works together

When we work together,

Rain or stormy weather

We serve the Lord together.

I wanna give my best to the Lord,

For everything that He’s done for me,

And with You by my side

We can serve Him faithfully.

Our work becomes an offering when done with integrity, diligence and a desire to glorify Him. This is excellence in service to God.While we work and serve the Lord, we must devote our time in prayer. Prayer is our direct line of communication with God. Let us spend time in heartfelt conversation with Him. Share our joys, struggles and desires. Seek His wisdom and listen to His gentle whispers. Philippians 1:9-10 says, “ And this is my prayer that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is bestand may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

Jesus observed a poor widow who gave two small coins (mites) at the temple treasury (Mark 12:41-44). Although her offering seemed insignificant, Jesus praised her because she gave all she had. Her sacrificial heart demonstrated that true worship isn’t about the amount but the attitude. When we give our best - even if seems small - God notices and honors it.

Above all, God offered His best - the ultimate sacrifice - through Jesus Christ. John 3:16 declares, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” Jesus willingly laid down His life for our redemption. As recipients of this unparalleled and incomparable grace, we respond by offering our lives back to Him, offering our best.

As we give our best to the Lord, let our devotion be marked by wholehearted surrender, sacrificial love and a desire to honor Him in all we do. Colossians provides timeless wisdom, urging us to have faith with dedication, regardless of our circumstances. Let us be reminded that our work, even in challenging situations, should reflect our devotion to the Lord. Let us serve with sincerity and commitment, knowing that our ultimate rewards come from from the Lord Himself. Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” This further means that we entrust our actions and endeavors to the Lord, and in so doing, our thoughts and plans will find stability and direction.

Hebrews 6:10 also encourages us, “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. This emphasizes that God recognizes and appreciates the efforts and love shown by believers in serving others and ministering to fellow saints. This serves a reminder of God’s faithfulness and justice.

Our Prayer for Today:

Lord God, we give You unending thanks, for You have brought us once again to begin today. We are grateful that we have seen yet another day pass, and You have kept us from harm and blessed us to do today’s works for You. Lord help us to continue serving You and to do our best, giving us strength and courage to face trials and test. Bless us O lord and guide our steps each day of ourlife. In Jesus mighty name. Amen.