A devotion by Michelle Clements, Vice President of Development & Communications

ABCS Core Value: Honor God in all we do.

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

This ABCS Core Value is easy enough to understand – it means that we should bring honor to God in every aspect of our work and daily living. But how easy is it to live like this? As Christians we represent Christ to an unbelieving world and to other believers in everything we say and do. Ask yourself, “What is my life saying about Christ? How am I representing Him when people see me or talk with me?” Eek. My guess is that most of us have a twinge of conviction following these questions, or in certain seasons a tidal wave of conviction. The passages proceeding Colossians 3:17 call on us to put our earthly nature to death and instead clothe ourselves with virtues such as compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. This is not possible independent of Christ as our righteousness is found in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) As sinners we are going to fall short of honoring God in all we do, but we can repent and turn back to God, and rest in the assurance that “…there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).