This article is based on Pastor Adrian Rogers' message, Monday Morning Religion.
So many people have only Sunday morning religion. But we ought to bring our worship to church, and take it with us when we leave. When we are right with God, every day is holy, every act is sacred. We are to do everything we do to the glory of God.
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:16-17).
We become like what we worship. (Read Psalm 135:15-18.) Therefore, God wants us to worship Him. What is worship? Worship is doing everything in the name of Jesus and giving God thanks for it.
“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). When we do this, the so-called “secular” things are sanctified, and God is glorified. (See 1 Peter 4:10-11.)
What does it mean to do everything in the name of Jesus? Ask yourself these three questions.
If someone puts his name on something, he is endorsing it. Is what you are doing, and thinking about doing, something that Jesus Christ could put His name on? Could Christ say, “Yes; what you are doing is consistent with my character”? If you are a believer, you are the property of Jesus Christ. You have no right to do anything Jesus Christ could not endorse.
The Bible is not primarily a rule book, but a book of principles. Can you imagine Paul writing, “You shall not go to an X-rated movie”? People in the first century would say, “I don’t know what that is...” The Bible is a book of principles which are consistent with the person and work of Jesus Christ. You can find loopholes in laws, but not in the character and personality of Christ.
Can you imagine Jesus watching that film? Would you go dressed that way if Jesus were your companion? Would Christ put His name on that business contract? Would He subscribe to that magazine?
A person’s name stands not only for his personality, but for his authority. Remember, Jesus said, “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:14). When you bring Jesus’ name into something, you bring Jesus into it.
Jesus sent out seventy people to represent Him in the early days of His ministry.
“Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.’ And He said to them, ‘I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven’” (Luke 10:17-20).
A policeman stands in the middle of the street, in his uniform and badge. An eighteen-wheeler comes. That policeman holds up his hand, and the truck stops. How did the policeman stop the truck? With power? No—rather, by the authority of the law.
Who is stronger, you or Satan? Satan is. Who has more authority? You do. Jesus said, “I give you authority over all the power of the enemy.”
Paul wrote, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). Then he gets personal.
“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord” (Colossians 3:18). This is not slavery. This is not demeaning. Submission is one equal voluntarily placing herself under the authority of another equal, so that God may be glorified. How, in this day of militant feminism, is a godly wife going to submit to her husband? In the power of the name of Christ.
“Husbands, love your wives and do not be bitter toward them” (Colossians 3:19). The wife’s love is to be submissive; the husband’s love is to be sacrificial and serving. This is agape love. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Ephesians 5:25). How can you do anything that Jesus did? Only in the power of His name.
“Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord” (Colossians 3:20). Young person, the measure of your obedience is in all things. The motive for your obedience is, to please the Lord. Clean your room in the name of Jesus. Do your homework in the name of Jesus.
“Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21).
Little children need tender love. They want their dad to be strong. But when he is with them, he needs to be tender. In order to love your children and not provoke them, learn the technique of tenderness. How do you do this? In the name of Jesus.
“Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” (Colossians 3:22-24). When you go to work tomorrow morning, are you going in the name of Jesus?
Work heartily, with enthusiasm. Work for your boss as if he were Jesus Christ. It ought to be that employers say to employment agencies, “If you have any Christians, send them over. They get to work on time. They don’t complain. They work hard—they serve and go the extra mile. I can trust them with anything.” Are you different from those around you on the job? You are, if you have Monday morning religion.
To do something in Jesus’ name means to do it for His honor. Is Jesus glorified by what you do? Jesus can be glorified by the way you take your vacation, the way you mow your yard, the way you dress, the way you smile.
If you are witnessing to people, telling them they need to be saved, then they need to see a radically different life—not simply someone who goes to church on Sunday.
What does worship look like on Monday morning? Doing everything in the name of Jesus, and giving God thanks for it. When you do this, you are glorifying God, so therefore you are worshipping Him. You are carrying out your worship through the week, and come Sunday, you are bringing your worship to church.
