Colossians 3:16

This picture was taken when we vacationed with dear missionary friends in a little cottage in Kenya on the shores of the Indian Ocean.

Colossians 3:16 “Let the Word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts.”

This one verse is jam-packed with wisdom and encouragement on exactly how we should conduct our lives. First after diligently making Jesus Christ the Lord and Savior, we should be determine to keep the Word utmost in our hearts, making every decision, every thought should come from Wisdom of God’s Word. Take every thought captive. Then we are with great care and concern, be diligent in training our children in the admonition of the Lord. Also we should share the Love of Christ and have a great desire for the wellbeing of those in whom the Lord brings into each of our lives. This is the work to which each of us is called.

Let the Word of Christ have its home in your hearts and minds in all its richness. The one way that we can be certain to fulfill this encouraging Word, with richness is if we are continually filled with the Holy Spirit. It is the job of the Holy Spirit to keep our minds centered on Christ and the Word of God. In Ephesians 3:16-18 “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it].” In this passage our Lord is encouraging us to experience His great Love.”

When we walk in that Love of the Lord, our children will be watching and through our godly example, want that for themselves.

I have also witnessed the opposite of that. When our twins were very small, we had to forbid a little boy from playing with them because of his foul language. When we met his father, we understood who had taught him the bad language.

Also, as we grow in the Lord, this verse would encourage us to teach, admonish and train one another. Again, the most powerful influence we have after being totally filled to over-flowing with the Holy Spirit, is the way we live our lives in front of others. How we conduct ourselves with our neighbors, or the strangers in the grocery store. Can they see Jesus in us? Let’s take Jesus out of the church building and be the kind of person that others see and desire to be. Let’s always be on the alert for a nudge from the Holy Spirit to share Christ with others. I believe that we who are older in the Lord have a heavy responsibility to show those who are younger how to live the life that glorifies the Lord in every way. We need to be continually seeking the Lord for more wisdom in spiritual things. Ephesians 1:17 “For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,”

I firmly believe that the only way we can be successful in our Christian walk is by letting Jesus live His Life through each one of us. Ephesians 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.19 Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord,20 At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” This is the way to walk in the Spirit, to surrender to the Holy Spirit by letting Him control our thoughts, our will and our emotions. Which is a delightful, full-time pursuit.

Conclusion Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave (stick like glue) steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].”