Let The Message About Christ, In All Its Richness, Fill Your Lives

COLOSSIANS 3:16
“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 ‭NKJV‬
‬https://www.bible.com/114/col.3.16.nkj

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Early Christians had access to the Old Testament and used it, but they didn’t yet have the New Testament.
Their stories and teachings about the Messiah were passed on through spoken word, often set to music from person to person, making it easier to remember, and so music became an important part of the Christian worship and education.
Just as in Old Testament times, we believers need God’s word, it needs to be in our hearts and minds to do its work, exposing what is true and changing how we think.
Reading it, is not enough, we need to live it, by taking it in and meditate on it, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Only through God’s word, our commitment and cooperation can one be transformed by the renewing of the mind, that one may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (ROMANS 12:1-2).”
My beloved, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
God’s Word, not only cleanses us from sin, but it strengthens us against the temptations of the flesh. David said, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O Lord! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭9‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My brethren, we must take on this attitude of David to live a godly life, and be thankful; for thankful people can worship wholeheartedly; gratitude opens one’s heart to God’s peace and enables us to put on love.
Rather than focusing on what is wrong in our lives, we must count our blessings, seeing our cup as half full rather than half empty. But whatever your situation, rejoice, for as a Spirit filled believer of Jesus Christ, your name is written in the book of life.
The truth is, ““Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit (JEREMIAH 17:7-8).
My beloved, make time for regular study of God’s word every day, for Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭4‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Whilst God’s word works within us to change us from our sinful nature, it gives us good advice on how to live. David put like this, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the Lord, They shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; Indeed, you will look carefully for his place, But it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37‬:‭3‬-‭11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
But love is the very foundation of God’s way life. Jesus said, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭40‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
To love is to care for; to love others as yourself, is to care for others as you care for yourself; it means to give to those in need without expectation of anything in return.
Give to the needy, not the greedy; be certain to be wise and give only by the leading of Holy Spirit in you (JOHN 14:15-18).
Giving from the flesh will not only break your finances, it may also undermine what God is doing in others lives. That includes your children that use emotional blackmail to have you subsidise their lifestyles.
But truth is, if everyone was obedient to these great commandments of love, this world would quickly become a far better place to live.
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 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. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭17‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
All glory to God forever and ever!