Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:16-17 ESV

When meditating on this passage of Scripture in Colossians, I am immediately drawn to the very beginning of this particular verse where Paul instructs the saints to let the word of Christ dwell richly within them. One of the things that I long for as a believer in Christ is to have the word of Christ dwelling richly within me. It is not a legalistic issue. It is not an issue of reason or to puff up in knowledge while lording over others and culminating in no lasting change or bearing good fruit. Rather, it is to know Him more and to understand His ways. When looking at Colossians 3 as a whole, we can see that the entire chapter is devoted to putting on the new self. As it was applicable to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae, so it is to us; we are to fix our gaze upwardly and to set our minds heavenly. We are to remember to what kingdom we will be resurrected and by Whom this resurrection comes while walking in the understanding that as such with this promise of eternal life has come death to the old man, the old self that once desired to cling to a sinful nature rather than to God Himself. We die daily to that nature because of Him.

Yet we see in verse 12 of this chapter the nature of Christ revealed and to what we have been instructed and called by God. We are to be clothed in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, forbearance, forgiveness, love, peace, and thankfulness (Colossians 3:12-15). It occurs to me while writing this that without having read the Scripture here, you and I would not have known the beauty of this passage nor the instruction, and here in lies understanding the first part of verse 16, Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.

The word of Christ is Scripture. We are reminded in Romans 10:17 that faith (in Christ) comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. This is the gospel. Jesus Christ brought revelation of the Word into the world. When understanding what it means for the Word to dwell richly within us, The MacArthur Study Bible says that, “”Richly” may be more fully rendered “abundantly or extravagantly rich” and “dwell” means “to live in” or “to be at home.” Scripture should permeate every aspect of the believer’s life and control every thought, word, and deed.” We are to have God’s Word written upon our hearts. Having it written upon our hearts draws us back to a desire to please God rather than ourselves. We learn ever more how to walk in His ways and to be replete with His Spirit. We want His Word to be extravagantly rich and at home in us because the Holy Spirit indwells us as believers in Christ. When the word of Christ is rich within us, we delight in the truth rather than taking offense to it. His Word gives us peace in the midst of chaos and turmoil. What were to happen if our Bibles were taken from us? Would we have enough of the word of Christ dwelling richly within us that we could be comforted in persecution and trial? Could we teach and instruct others properly in all wisdom out of the richness from that place of habitation so to speak?

As I think about Colossians 3, I cannot help but to think on passages from Psalm 119, such as “Your word have I treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You” (v.11), “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law” (v.18), “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors”, (v.24), “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven”, (v. 89), and one of the most well known from this psalm, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). If you have not read the longest psalm in the Bible, I encourage you to read it. Though as believers in Christ, our identity is not found in the Law, we love the instruction of the Lord, and we understand the nature of God in it. We understand His holiness and His majesty, and we can find ourselves saying as this psalmist did, “Your word is very pure, therefore your servant loves it” (Psalm 119:140).

Be encouraged today and every day to get into the written Word of God. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Let your conduct testify of Christ Jesus and may it be worthy of the gospel of Christ. Give thanks to God the Father for sending His Son to reconcile you back to Him and that you are able to testify of Christ by His Spirit. As we come into the time of celebrating the glorious Resurrection of our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, let us not forsake the Word. After all, He is the One who is the Word.

Please follow and like us: