No matter what we do with our time here on earth, we are servants of the Lord.  Like Paul said in Col 3:24, “ye serve the Lord Christ.”  And we are to serve him continually.  In Col 3:17-25, Paul gave us some plain instructions on how to serve the Lord.  We are to serve the Lord Christ:

Faithfully – Col 3:17 – “whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.”  When your words are spoken and your deeds are done in the name of the Lord, you are presenting yourself as his servant.  You’re not speaking or acting on your own behalf.  Jesus said, “I am come in my Father’s name,” Jn 5:43.  He wasn’t here to do his own will, but rather his Father’s will.  Likewise, we should faithfully serve the Lord and never serve our own will.  

Furthermore, when we serve in the name of the Lord, we have his authority behind what we do and say.  In 1 Sam 17:45, David told Goliath, “I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.”  So, David had God’s power and authority to back him.  It’s like in the old movies, when the police raided a place, they would say, “Open up in the name of the law.”  They had the power and authority of the law behind them.

Thankfully – Col 3:17 – “giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”  We should be thankful to be the Lord’s servants.  We should thank God in our place of service, no matter what place that might be.  Often, people are discontent in their place of service and they are not thankful.  We are not here to improve our status; we are here to serve. Be thankful that you are privileged to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, by far, the greatest Master this world has ever seen.  Here are some typical places of service:

• Wives submit to your own husbands – Col 3:18 – this is fit in the Lord.  When a wife serves the Lord Christ, it is much easier for her to submit to her husband, because she’s doing it for the Lord.
• Husbands love your wives – Col 3:19 – and be not bitter against them.  When a husband is truly serving the Lord, he will love his wife the way that Christ loves the church, because that’s what Jesus wants him to do.  
• Children obey your parents – Col 3:20 – in all things, for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.  When children are serving the Lord, they will obey their parents.  If they hope to please the Lord, they will obey their parents in all things.
• Fathers provoke not your children to anger – Col 3:21 – lest they be discouraged.  Men are better fathers, who serve the Lord Christ.
• Servants obey your masters – Col 3:22 – in all things; not with eye service as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.  A servant who is serving the Lord Jesus Christ will be the very best servant a man can have.  Joseph was such a faithful servant to Potiphar and such a beneficial trustee to the warden because he was a faithful servant of the Lord.  God made him to prosper.

Heartily – Col 3:23 – “whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.”  We should put ourselves wholeheartedly into the service of the Lord.  Look at Deut 10:12, “… and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul.”

Expectantly – Col 3:24 – “knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance.”  It should be encouraging to us to know that there is a reward later for sacrificial service now.  I have heard some men say that we shouldn’t be motivated by a reward for our service.  Often the men who say this aren’t doing much, if anything, for the Lord.  The ones who are serving the Lord faithfully are looking forward to enjoying the fruit of their labors someday, Prov 27:18.

Fearfully – Col 3:25 – “he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.”  When Paul wrote about the judgment seat of Christ in 2 Cor 5:10, he followed that verse with, “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,” 2 Cor 5:11.  As Paul wrote to servants in Col 3:22, we should serve “in singleness of heart, fearing God.”

Conclusion: you and I are servants of the Lord and we are, therefore, to serve the Lord Christ.  Do and say all that you do and say in his name.  This is not about you and me.  Never forget this.  Be thankful that you can serve such a wonderful Master as Jesus.  Serve him with all of your heart.  And remember that you will receive a reward for good service and you will receive for the wrong that you do, as well.