Let The Word Dwell Richly

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly (abundantly) as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." (Col.3:16 NIV)

Purpose of the scripture

We know from 2 Tim 3:16,17 "all Scripture is God‑breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

In Romans there is an explanation "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." (Rom 15:4)

In the Old Testament it says, "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." (Josh.1:8 NKJV) The Word of God should be kept close and leads to wisdom.

Hearers and doers of the Word

James tells us to do what the Word says. In the Scriptures we see ourselves like in a mirror and see our true identity; he who will look into the perfect law, which is the law of freedom, will persist in it, like someone who fulfills it, he will be happy in his work. Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:22‑27)

* To restrain our tongue
* To look after the orphans
* To look after the widows
* To keep ourselves untainted by the world

Our Lord Jesus says: "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31,32) To know the Truth. But what is Truth? Pilate asked the same question. In his prayer in Gethsemane Jesus says: "I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world…Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth." (John 17:14,17) We see that the word of Jesus is the Word of the Father–that is Truth and it sanctifies (cleanses).

Pictures of dwellers in Christ

In John 12:44‑46 Jesus stated, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the One who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the One who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should remain in darkness." So, we should be the light and salt in this world as he was. A similar analogy is made in relation to water in John 7:38 when Jesus said, "whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said: rivers of living water will flow from within him."

Matt.7:24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock." We need to build with care.

* Gold, silver, costly stones
* Wood, hay, straw

Paul talked about everyone’s work being revealed by fire. It could burn or stand. We could receive a reward, or not. God’s children are tried by fire all the time. (1 Cor.3:12‑13)

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." (John 15:1‑8) If we bear fruit, we are pruned to bear even more fruit. But why? For our Heavenly Father to be glorified.

In 1 Peter 1:22,23 it says, "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God." Why? As one is begotten again through the word of God.

"Your (God’s) promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times." (Psa.119:140,160; 12:6) "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him." Therefore "do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar." (Prov.30:5,6) "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double‑edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." (Heb.4:12)

* the seed that fell along the path that the birds ate up
* the seed that fell on rocky places that was scorched
* the seed that fell among thorns that was choked
* the seed that fell on good soil that produces a crop a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold

In the first category the listener is likened to someone who "hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one (Satan) comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart." (Matt.13:19) In the second case the seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone "who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away." (vv.20,21) In the third situation "the seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful." (v.22) And finally "the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." (v.23)

Jesus then continues with another parable from verse 24, the Parable of the Weeds saying "the kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field." The good seed are the people of the Kingdom and the weeds are the people of the evil one, Satan. They grow together and are not separated till the harvest.

John 6:26‑69 says let us work for the food that endures, to eternal life, which the Son of man gives. The work that God asks of us to believe in our Lord Jesus. The Father gives us the true bread from heaven, which descends from heaven giving life to the world and no one can come to Jesus unless the Father draws them. Whoever believes in Jesus has eternal life. Jesus said, "I am the bread of life" and whoever eats this bread will live forever. Who does not eat my flesh and does not drink my blood has no life in them. As John 6:68 says, "You have the words of eternal life."

Richness and abundance

Every day we must feed on the teachings of Jesus, abundantly, and putting it in practice in our daily lives by living the "words of life." Let us consider all that is good, through the wisdom that comes from above.

"He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first‑fruits of all he created... Take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (James 1:18‑21) James also tells us to ask God for wisdom and it will be given to us. However, wisdom can be worldly or from above; from our heavenly Father as it says in chapter 3:17‑18 for "the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace‑loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.:

To praise the Father, to give Him glory we need to produce a lot of fruit such as "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self‑control." (Gal 5:22,23) And also in Eph.5:9 "for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth." Therefore, as we are the light of God, let us live as children of light.

We should "find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’ Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise. Making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph.5:10‑20)

"Therefore, if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like‑minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind." (Phil 2:1,2)

"Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends…to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co‑workers, whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. " (Phil 4:1‑8)

For "now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly, evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it. Then those who feared the LORD talked with each other, and the LORD listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the LORD and honoured his name. ‘On the day when I act,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘they will be my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as a father has compassion and spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.’" (Mal 3:15‑18)

Therefore, as King David said "I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." (Psa.34:1)