WHEN I BECAME a Christian in college, I learned early on that I was supposed to read my Bible and pray. And every prayer was supposed to end with the words, “in Jesus’ name,” or something to that effect. I don’t remember if anyone ever explicitly told me that I had to say those words or else the prayer would be invalid. It was probably more a matter of learning from the example of others. That’s how everyone else around me did it, so I should do that too, right?

And of course, there’s good biblical precedent for doing so. For example, we might think of Jesus’ words to his disciples in the Upper Room:

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. (John 14:12-14, NIV)

It’s a stunning promise, and one that’s generated more than a little confusion. We pray, and we pray, and we pray, making sure to ask everything in Jesus’ name — and still many prayers seem to go unanswered. Did Jesus not mean what he said? Or have we misunderstood?

Let’s consider the context for a moment. Jesus is talking to his closest circle of followers, the men whom he expects to carry on his ministry after he’s gone. They will do his works; in fact, they will do even greater works. That’s the context of the asking. These are prayers to Jesus about carrying on the work of Jesus, not prayers to bless the food, or be healed from sickness, or to have a successful job interview.

Moreover, think about the other things in the New Testament that were done in the name of Jesus. In his Pentecost sermon to the astonished crowds, Peter urged the people to be baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 2:38). In the very next chapter, just outside the temple courts, Peter healed a lame man “in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth” (3:6). In the chapter after that, Peter and John are hauled before the Sanhedrin, and commanded “not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus” (4:18). And later, when Paul became fed up with the female slave who had been dogging his every step in Philippi, he turned around and commanded a spirit to come out of her “in the name of Jesus Christ” (16:18).

All of these activities were done to carry on the mission of Jesus, under his authority, and to the glory of his name. When the Sanhedrin warned Peter and John not to speak in the name of Jesus, they weren’t saying, “You can say whatever you want, just don’t add the words, ‘in Jesus’ name’ to the end of it.” Rather, they were angry and fearful about the way the name and fame of Jesus was spreading among the people because of the works Peter and John were doing as his representatives.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing to end our prayers by saying “in Jesus’ name.” But it’s important to realize, I think, how often we do this by rote without even thinking about what we’re doing. Have you ever prayed out loud to Jesus, come to the end of the prayer, and suddenly felt confused about what you were supposed to say next? Wait, I’m praying to Jesus, so can I say “in Jesus’ name”? That sounds a little odd. Am I supposed to say “in your name” instead?

We shouldn’t just say “in Jesus’ name” by force of habit. Nor should we treat those words as a magical incantation to get whatever we pray for. To do anything in the name of Jesus is to do so as his representatives. That’s how we should read Paul’s use of the phrase in Colossians:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 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. 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. (Col 3:15-17)

We don’t simply pray in the name of Jesus. We don’t just sing the name of Jesus. Paul says that we are to do everything in the name of Jesus — every word spoken, every deed done. We are to live in the knowledge that we are his grateful representatives. After all, if we call ourselves “Christians” or “Christ-followers,” we’re already going by the name of Christ. And what others see in us, individually and corporately, will affect how they also see Christ.

Think about that for a moment. In the context of Colossians 3, Paul is calling believers to be people of love, peace, and gratitude. But on any given day, we can be preoccupied with everything that’s going wrong in our lives, everything that’s wrong with the world. We complain, we gossip, we moan, we judge, we vilify. We sound just like every other disgruntled person on the planet, and forget that our calling is to represent the name of Jesus.

So if you would, think back to the last negative conversation you had with someone. It may have been a conflict; it may have been a gripe session. What might have changed if you saw yourself as representing the name of Jesus as a person of love, peace, and gratitude?