In our previous study, we learned that when God gives Christians new hearts that they “let the peace of Christ rule” in their hearts by working to end strife. But new hearts also leads to another new behavior:
We Love the Scriptures
Christians love the Word of God!
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, (verse 16)
In the NKJV, there is a comma after “wisdom,” but it probably belongs right after the word “richly” as most of the other translations render it. So the first part of verse 16 is simply: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.”
The “word of Christ” is shorthand for the entire Bible; the Scriptures. Jesus taught that the Scriptures testified of Himself (John 5:39).
In this phrase, then, Paul has in mind the Word of Christ as well as the Word about Christ: “Let Christ’s Word—the biblical teaching that points to Jesus Christ—let this very Word dwell richly within you.”
The word, “dwell” is a word that means “to make one’s home” or “to be at home.” And the sense is present and active: “Keep making sure that the Word of Christ is at home within you.”
Or put the opposite way: “Don’t treat God’s Word like an unwelcome guest.” Or even “an occasionally visiting guest.”
See to it that God’s Word is at home within you and that His Word continually dwells within you richly.
What do you enjoy dwelling within you richly?
I can tell you that I am happy to allow a number of things to dwell within me richly: a good, light roast, single origin coffee from Kenya or Ethiopia, for example. Or cheese—glorious cheese!—a 15-year cheddar, is another thing I enjoy “dwelling within” me.
In a very real sense, this is the same way we are to enjoy God’s Word, the Word of Christ. The Bible is God’s food for us—and it is good food! It is meant to be cherished as a singular delicacy.
Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly. Let it get down deep within. Savor it. Enjoy it. Eat this spiritual food every day and watch it change your life for the glory of God!
Read the Bible every day. Whether you use a Bible reading plan or some other method, just be sure to take time to “let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” Slow down. Read a portion as carefully and slowly as you would eat something you really enjoyed.
Don’t eat without tasting it! Savor it.
You might start this morning with a psalm. Slowly read Psalm 1. Read it and re-read it. Savor it. Allow it to “get down deep” within you.
Paul continues:
…in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (verse 16)
Christians share wisdom with one another by “teaching and admonishing one another.” Christians not only teach, but “admonish,” which means to caution, to counsel, to help by warning; to reprove gently.
If we love each other, we will admonish one another, even warning one another when our behavior does not “match” our identity, when we’re wearing the wrong spiritual clothing.
It is especially interesting in verse 16 that one of the ways Christians teach and admonish one another is through “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.”
Don’t miss the inference:
Worship music is to contain lyrics that teach Christians.
Christian hymns and Christian songs are to have a teaching quality about them; even an admonishing element about them.
I think this fact is more important than trying to figure out whether there is some kind of distinction between Paul’s understanding of psalms, hymns, or spiritual songs.
Volumes have been written on the supposed differences between and distinctions of these three musical offerings.
This much is clear: While there is a variety of Christian music, all of it should contain lyrics comprising the Word of Christ. Songs should have words that teach the church and songs that admonish the church.
Note also the “attitude of gratitude” in verse 16. Just as verse 15 concluded with an element of gratitude, “and be thankful,” so verse 16 concludes with the statement, “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
“Singing with grace” is singing “with thankfulness in your hearts” (ESV) or with “gratitude in your hearts” (NIV). Thankful people can worship God meaningfully.
If you have received God’s forgiveness and you know what it is to be forgiven of sin, then you can sing. Paul writes, “Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Don’t say you can’t sing. You can. You may feel that you do not sing well, but that is to compare yourself with others. Don’t compare yourself with others! Sing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. God loves the way you sing!
Every single mom or dad loves to hear his or her child sing to them! Parents love to hear their children sing. Our heavenly Father is no different. Sing with grace, sing with thankfulness in your hearts to the Lord.
Has God ever given you a song to sing? Has He ever given you one that isn’t already written down?
Some years ago, God blessed me with a song to sing as I was driving around one day working. I was driving around and I just began to praise the Lord. Gratitude within was spilling without.
So I have my own personal “praise hymn” that is my very own spiritual song:
I sing this praise to You, dear Jesus
With my whole heart I praise You, Lord
I sing this praise to You, dear Jesus
And I thank You for Your Word,
Because on it my life is anchored
Your Word stands forever true,
Thank you, Jesus!
Hallelujah!
I love You.
Thankfulness and gratitude are the means by which we may allow Christ and His Word to dwell within us richly, enabling us to “put on love” (Colossians 3:14-16).
What About You?
- Do you need to adjust your schedule to have meaningful time each day to savor the Word?
- Is the lyrical text of Christian music more important than the beat or style? Why or why not?
- Do you have a personal psalm, hymn, or spiritual song?
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