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.
Colossians 3:16 KJV
In putting today's extract in the right context, it is important to consider the very first verse of the chapter under consideration which reads: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. It means I have to seriously check my life to see if I qualify for the things that follow. Am I risen with Christ, having partaken of his death and resurrection? Have I surrendered my life to Him yet, or am I still struggling for control? How I answer this question will determine if today's extract actually applies to me.
If I have sorted out my allegiance, the Word of God becomes my most important companion. I am to LET the Word dwell richly. I have a part to play, and it should make me careful and at the same time awed that the Lord of all the earth will not force Himself on me. If I do not allow the Word to dwell, I cannot blame God for the things that then take all my time and attention away from God. There is no fence on this one; you are either all in or all out.
What would you TEACH and ADMONISH if you don't know what the mind of Christ is? How do you encourage someone else who is going through depressing times without the true comfort God alone can give? Are mere words, empty of the power of Christ, sufficient to bring hope, joy, peace, comfort and grace to a grieving heart? You cannot give what you don't have. Is my life an example of someone who is under the control and influence of the Word or am I given to platitudes and high-sounding words, empty of the healing, restoring power of God?
My heart will always reflect its residence status. If God dwells in it, praise and thanksgiving will never be far away from my lips. Could it be that the reason why we struggle with daily appreciation is because we take our eyes off God and fix them on the problems we have? We forget that we are now in Christ, and all that happens to us must first pass through Him to get to us. I take comfort from this: God knows me. He wants to do an inner work in me, so that when men see me, they will know that indeed, this person has been with Jesus. Would I allow His Word work in me? His time of favour is here.
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