Input; Output!

Input; Output!

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. Colossians 3:16 NRSV

There is a process to impact, and it starts with a relationship with the Word of God, who is Jesus himself. Today's extract talks about this process, and of course, the start point is what I do with the word of God. I could give it some room in my heart, or I could confine it to specific areas of my life. Whatever my decision is, this is what will determine the rest of today's extract.

God's Word is to DWELL in me richly; it is not temporary abode, where it comes in and goes out, or like the seed that fell by the wayside, with no impact at all. It is to find permanent residence in me, so it can dictate terms and direct my life. And of course, residence status determines what you are entitled to. If God's Word dwells in me, then I can teach and admonish others in all wisdom. I note that the grace to teach is not a function only of spiritual gifts, but of the outflow of grace I have received from being connected to God.

And of course, wherever the Word of God dwells, thanksgiving and praise are also present. God's Word speaks to the human condition, and is able to push through the limitations and realities of human nature, and give me a reason to be grateful to God. It sure does matter what my understanding of God is, because there will be times when you may not understand what He's doing, but your relationship with Him gives you the confidence and assurance that it will always end in praise.

So, what's the residence status of God's Word in your heart? Is it the steering wheel or a spare wheel? What you get is determined by who you know and belong to. His time of favour is here.