Family Represents His Name
There’s something about wearing a team’s jersey. The moment you put it on, you’re representing something bigger than yourself. You can have a whole team wearing the same jersey, but that doesn’t necessarily mean everybody is playing like they’re on the same team.
The problem is if we’re more interested in playing our way than following the One who’s leading. How often do we do the same thing when it comes to following Jesus?
The problem is if we’re more interested in playing our way than following the One who’s leading. How often do we do the same thing when it comes to following Jesus?
Am I actually representing Jesus, or am I just wearing His name?
Representing Jesus well matters so much. Think of your favorite song. Now, think of how it sounds when a cover band plays it. It could be pretty good at best, but it’s not the original band playing the original song. And for some people, their first introduction to Jesus isn’t through reading the Gospels, it’s through us.
When we misrepresent Jesus, people may reject someone they’ve never really met.
The family of Jesus should never make Jesus harder to recognize. Most of us genuinely want to follow Jesus, but the way Jesus calls us to live starts competing with the way we actually respond. We can want to represent Jesus and still want to control how we live.
And this isn’t because we don’t know what Jesus wants us to do. The call of Jesus in our lives isn’t unclear, it’s inconvenient. It’s not hard to understand, it’s hard to obey because it confronts my way of doing things.
And this isn’t because we don’t know what Jesus wants us to do. The call of Jesus in our lives isn’t unclear, it’s inconvenient. It’s not hard to understand, it’s hard to obey because it confronts my way of doing things.
If I’m going to carry the name of Jesus, am I willing to let Jesus have the final say in how I live?
It’s more than just wearing the jersey, it’s letting Jesus form us into someone who represents Him accurately.
Remember Who You Are
In Colossians 3, Paul writes to another church about what it looks like to live as the family of Jesus. But before Paul tells them how to live, he reminds them who they are.
Colossians 3
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
When people encounter the family of Jesus, these are the things they ought to see. Paul doesn’t just tell us what to put on. He tells us what needs to be ruling underneath it all.
Let The Peace of Christ Rule
Colossians 3
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
The word rule carries the idea of an umpire – someone who makes the final call. Let the peace of Christ have the final call in your heart.
Remember Who You Are
In Colossians 3, Paul writes to another church about what it looks like to live as the family of Jesus. But before Paul tells them how to live, he reminds them who they are.
Colossians 3
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
When people encounter the family of Jesus, these are the things they ought to see. Paul doesn’t just tell us what to put on. He tells us what needs to be ruling underneath it all.
Let The Peace of Christ Rule
Colossians 3
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
The word rule carries the idea of an umpire – someone who makes the final call. Let the peace of Christ have the final call in your heart.
If the peace of Christ doesn’t rule, something else will.
We all want peace, but we also want it under certain circumstances.
We all say we want peace, but sometimes what we really want is to win. We can be bitter, vengeful, and demand our own way, all while still claiming to follow Jesus. I can wear His name, claim to be a follower of Jesus, and still let something entirely different rule my heart.
- I want the conflict to end, but I also want everybody to know I was right.
- I want reconciliation, but I want the other person to apologize first.
- I want us to move forward, but I don’t particularly want to let go of what happened.
We all say we want peace, but sometimes what we really want is to win. We can be bitter, vengeful, and demand our own way, all while still claiming to follow Jesus. I can wear His name, claim to be a follower of Jesus, and still let something entirely different rule my heart.
The peace that made us family must now rule our family.
Let the Message of Christ Dwell
Colossians 3
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
That verse doesn’t say, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as the pastor teaches you from the stage…”
It says, “as you teach and admonish one another…”
That means spiritual growth isn’t just the pastor's responsibility. Pastors are ultimately accountable for spiritual growth, but it’s not entirely on their shoulders to maintain. The responsibility belongs to the family.
Colossians 3
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Paul connects the message of Jesus dwelling among us with something we do every Sunday: singing. We tend to think of worship as something between me and God, but Paul says something else happens when the church sings.
We’re not just singing to God, we’re reminding one another of who God is. We hear the voices of people around us declaring something we desperately need to remember. That’s why getting to church on time for worship is crucial. It isn’t the pregame to the sermon, it is the game.
Do Everything In the Name of Christ
Colossians 3
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Paul says, “Whatever you do.” That’s a comprehensive statement because we have an incredible ability to divide our lives into categories. But in no part of my life does Jesus stop being Lord.
Gratitude
One word keeps showing up in these verses.
Colossians 3
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Three times Paul brings us back to the same posture. Gratitude. Thankfulness.
Jesus did what we could never do for ourselves. He brought us near. He reconciled us to God. He made us a family. That’s why gratitude matters so much.
Colossians 3
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
That verse doesn’t say, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as the pastor teaches you from the stage…”
It says, “as you teach and admonish one another…”
That means spiritual growth isn’t just the pastor's responsibility. Pastors are ultimately accountable for spiritual growth, but it’s not entirely on their shoulders to maintain. The responsibility belongs to the family.
Colossians 3
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Paul connects the message of Jesus dwelling among us with something we do every Sunday: singing. We tend to think of worship as something between me and God, but Paul says something else happens when the church sings.
We’re not just singing to God, we’re reminding one another of who God is. We hear the voices of people around us declaring something we desperately need to remember. That’s why getting to church on time for worship is crucial. It isn’t the pregame to the sermon, it is the game.
Do Everything In the Name of Christ
Colossians 3
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Paul says, “Whatever you do.” That’s a comprehensive statement because we have an incredible ability to divide our lives into categories. But in no part of my life does Jesus stop being Lord.
Gratitude
One word keeps showing up in these verses.
Colossians 3
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Three times Paul brings us back to the same posture. Gratitude. Thankfulness.
Jesus did what we could never do for ourselves. He brought us near. He reconciled us to God. He made us a family. That’s why gratitude matters so much.
Gratitude reminds us that we’re recipients before we’re representatives.
When I begin to remember how Jesus treated me, it changes the way I see the people around me. Gratitude doesn’t just change the way I feel about Jesus. It changes the way I treat people.
When people encounter me, what kind of Jesus are they seeing?
Do people around us encounter an accurate representation of Jesus? Because if I’m going to wear the jersey, it needs to reflect the team.
Recent
Archive
2026
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
2025
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November