GIGO - This famous computer axiom - which as you no doubt remember, means:  that if invalid data is entered into a system - the resulting output will also be invalid.   Garbage In Garbage Out.  Although originally applied to computer software - this holds true for all systems.   Including life systems, work systems, family systems, church systems - thus all relationship systems.
            

Obviously, we are each in many different relationship systems.   When we are believers in Christ our relationships are kicked up a notch, for all eternity.   We are not to begin our relationships with Garbage In.  Rather we are to put God into our relationships.

            Colossians 3:17 gives us what our relationship base should be:  "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."   I really like the fact that this verse is a general summary of the preceding verses.  And besides being the base theme of our Lenten series - "Sacred Relationships", it is also the base theme of this entire Letter from the Apostle Paul.  It is about the all-powerful authority the sovereignty of Jesus Christ.   When we are continually filled with the all-powerful Jesus Christ, there is a solid much better chance that everything we do and say will have the might and power of Jesus in it.  When we put God into whatever we do, then there will be a Godly Outcome.  Our relationships become sacred.  And then as we live this life in Christ the natural outflow is being thankful to God.  As a matter of fact in these three verses "being thankful to God" is mentioned three times.

            In this section of Colossians 3 Paul ties human struggles and issues of day-to-day living to life in Christ.  In this way, Paul addresses the pagan culture of that day.  It was a cruel world.  In many ways it was devoid of compassion or love.  There was an attitude of "don't bother me and I won't bother you.  But let's be merry, if we can, for tomorrow we may die."   Paul says that for the truth of verse 17 to be applied in their reality, the believers must die to the old Pagan way of living and their past, for they have been raised alive to what is new, in Who is new!   I've wondered at times if our world is much different?

Perhaps in some ways we do have a similar attitude - even if we don't admit it to ourselves - or others.  Paul tells the Colossians - yes, and US, that living is not meant to be devoid of compassion or love; that we are to care for other people.  No matter what the cruel world dishes out, when we are in Christ - when we put on Christ – we have a new life.  Paul tells us that as we continue to live our new life in Jesus Christ, we must put off the old way - actions, thinking and beliefs - of our past life.  We do this more and more as we mature in our Christian walk.   We mature in our Christian walk as we gather together to worship God and to be together as believers.  We mature as Christians as we study God's Word, as we participate in small groups - for fellowship, friendship and understanding Scripture for our daily life.   As we study God's Word, we draw closer to God.
            

And by the way, if you are not in a small group for this Lent series - right after this service, go to the sign up table on the upper patio and speak with Karen Bryan.  She will assist you to get connected, so you can be involved in a group.  These are open, caring supportive relationships in Christ where spiritual growth, accountability and equipping one another in Christ.   I am personally so glad the small group ministry in this congregation is such a vital and key ministry.

             These groups are much like what the Apostle Paul portrays as the beauty of the Christian lifestyle.  We are called to live life fit in the way to which Christ calls us.  Just like walking, jogging, going to the gym, eating correctly all help to make us physically fit, so it is that meeting with other believers and studying God's word and learning how to apply it to our daily lives, with accountability to and from others, all help us to  become more and more spiritually fit.  Then this new life is satisfying and liberating.  This liberating base is our relationship in Jesus Christ - Jesus in us then this is the basis for all of our relationships. New life in Christ makes deep and meaningful relationships possible in every aspect of life.

And so, the simple, yet powerful message of this verse is: that Christ's sovereignty embraces every aspect of our life - not just the seemingly "sacred" - church things, things religious - but also the secular, the workplace, home and community;  every aspect of life.

            And I suppose there is the thought that, indeed, it is easier for us to acknowledge Christ as Lord of the church.  After all it is His church.   Oh, but are you and I not the church?   So when we say that we acknowledge Christ Lord of the church we are saying we trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior - of our personal life, our work life, our church life.  We acknowledge Jesus as Lord of it all.  No part of life is beyond His redeeming reach.   Miraculously He redeems our past and releases us of shame, guilt, wrongs done and wrongs received.  Jesus wants to be Lord of our personal life, guiding us in difficult decisions, assisting us when we are discouraged, and providing hope and strength in our weakness.  And when He is Lord of our interpersonal life, Christ enables us to forgive as we are forgiven.  He shows us the meaning of acceptance of others.  It is difficult to condemn others when we see them from Christ's perspective.

And so, the advice or command in this verse is one of the more comprehensive in Scripture.  "Word or deed" takes in everything in life.   You might remember back to Dave's sermon in October when he said that there is no difference between word and deed.   So, "words and deeds" include preaching, teaching, eating, thinking, drinking, exercising, and how I think about and treat my spouse, children, friends, co-workers "Words and deeds includes driving on the freeway and streets, cleaning house, shopping, visiting, what I read, meeting with a friend over lunch or for studying God's word.   "Word and Deed" is working.  That is working on our marriages, friendships, whether in the workplace, around the house, around the church, around the community.

"Everything" includes playing - that is playing any sport as a participant on a team or individual or even watching, and how we respond to wins, losses and mess ups by the team.  Playing also includes going to the Hollywood Bowl, other Fellowship activities here at MPC, theater, movies, as well as our vacation time.   Everything!   This is another way of saying it is our relationship to Christ that should dominate and dictate every other relationship and task in life.    Nothing is to separate our Sunday attitude and way of life from any other day of the week or place we go or thing we do.

            And yes, our "words and deeds" are everything that passes our lips, even in unguarded moments.  Yes, our words include our unspoken thoughts..because often those unspoken thoughts become our deeds - good or bad.  This says we need to think before we speak.  We need to think about the words we are going say.  We need to think about how those words will be received by those who will hear them.

            In our "sacred relationships" with one another, there are five questions we can be asking ourselves.  The five questions are:  Is it pure?  Is it true?  Is it necessary?  Is it kind?  Is it helpful?  If any of these five questions gets a hesitant yes or any sort of a NO, then our speech or action is not being done in the name of the Lord.  I encourage, even challenge you, and myself, that during the quiet time of communion, we each think and pray about how doing everything "in the name of the Lord" can transform what needs to be said and done this week.

            Our words and actions must say that Jesus is and does exactly what He claims -THROUGH US!  Just a few seconds of sin can disgrace the greatest of names.   Take just one example:  the Hebrew name JUDAH means "praise".  The New Testament equivalent is JUDAS – the one who betrayed Christ.  When we keep Jesus Christ at the center of our life we are full - full with Jesus Christ.  That fullness comes from an overflow of His peace and His word and His name.  And as I said, the outflow is being thankful to God.  This way of life must be the reality of our everyday.   You see, this is not just a dress rehearsal to see if we get it right.  This is the way our real life is to be lived here and now and going forward.  Out of our fullness of life in Christ there is to be a steady attitude of thanksgiving on our part.  Christ who is the goal of our living is to be the medium of our thanksgiving.  To live in Christ is the source of continuing gratitude in everything we do.   May God be gracious to us as we live in Him.