What does Colossians 3:17 mean?

Over these recent verses, Paul has listed 11 negative traits to avoid, and 11 positive traits for believers to mimic. In this verse, he summarizes his teaching with the all-encompassing phrase "whatever you do." Anything unmentioned in his list is to be understood from his words in this verse. This includes what we say and how we act. This fits cleanly with Paul's rejection of legalism and pious self-denial. Our relationship with Christ is not about a set of rules—human minds could never make enough individual rules to cover every possible situation. Instead, we are to submit everything, and every moment to Christ. Instead of living by a checklist, we are to submit to Him in "whatever" we think or do.

This teaching is emphasized a second time. Paul's teaching is once again all-encompassing. We are to "do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus." The final phrase "giving thanks to God the Father through him" is one reason for the tradition of ending prayers using the name of Jesus. Though we are not required to say these words in prayer, the idea is true. We thank God the Father, in the name of Jesus. It is through Jesus we are saved and have a new life (Acts 4:12).