Aug 3 Dwell in the Word of God

Aug 3 Col3.16Col 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell~~ in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.”

Whatever dominates our thoughts and values controls our lives. Our thoughts should be filled with the “word of Christ”—-that is, the teachings of Jesus (Matt 28:20), which includes all the commands

Jesus taught to His disciples and all the Spirit taught the apostles and prophets after Jesus’s ascension, which are recorded in the New Testament.

In Colossians 3:16, we are told to let all that God has revealed to us through Christ and His Spirit to “be continually or habitually dwelling” in us (or lit. “to live in, or be at home with” us). We are to be comfortable with the instructions and commands of Scripture. Paul commanded Timothy to “hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me” (2 Tim 1:13NLT). We are to learn His word and graft it onto our being.

The adverb richly is added. It means “abundantly or exceedingly,” almost an exaggerated form. All our values and guiding principles of life are to come from biblical directives.

The more richly our minds are saturated with the word of God, the more the Spirit can lead us to do His will, if we want Him to do what He says. In this way, as we mature in the word and it fills us, we become equipped to teach and exhort others.

Two specific consequences are inevitable: “teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom.” Earlier, Paul defined the nature and goal of his ministry: “[Jesus] we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col 1:28). Paul took responsibility for the maturity of his disciples by warning (or admonishing) them and teaching them the wisdom of God in His word.

The sign that this content has filled our minds and hearts is the emotional response evident in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with all grace [or thankfulness] in your hearts to God.” This is singing that is full of Scripture and sung in the heart to God for the joy of knowing Him through His word.

Lord, Your word is so full of meaning and insights that it is my daily delight. Because I cannot remember it all, I will refresh my mind and heart every day with Your wisdom and truths.

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