~Living Whole In Spirit ~ (Part 4)

[Patti G.]

Col. 3:16 (ESV) 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.

In this series of articles, we are looking at what it means to become whole in our relationship with Christ. He is the only one who can complete us and fill up what is lacking in our lives. What I want to look at specifically is; “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,” The “word of Christ” is not only the spoken words of Christ recorded in the Bible but all of scripture, so this is an exhortation to memorize Scripture. The word “dwell” means to be at home in us. John Wesley wrote that the word “dwell” here means “Not make a short stay, or an occasional visit, but take up its stated residence and richly means - in the largest measure, and with the greatest efficacy; so as to fill and govern the whole soul.”
Whenever I allow the words and truth of Christ to saturate my mind and heart it begins to change and motivate me. It helps me to know what is true and helps me recognize error. It gives me comfort in painful circumstances and gives me strength when I am weak. It is one of the best ways we have to grow spiritually in Christ. When the word of Christ dwells in us richly then we can and will produce good fruit.

Take a moment to consider how our words and actions might change if we would take more time to fill our hearts and minds with the Word of Christ. Think of the healthy good life giving words of Christ that can energize us and at the same time keep out all that is negative and unwholesome. The world around us is bombarding us with many different points of view, but we will only get God's view as we spend time in His Word making room for it to dwell richly within us. Whatever we have stored up inside our hearts and minds is exactly what comes out of us in our words and actions. If the Word is “at home” in us it will become our nature to obey it more closely to become more like Christ.
As we let the Word of Christ abundantly dwell with us, our faith will grow stronger:

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Not only is our faith strengthened, but we are comforted as we learn about our God and His love and care for us:

Rom 15:4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

The hope that Christ offers us is real and eternal and will never let us down like so many other people and things in this world.

There are many more amazing promises given in the Bible that show us the benefits of having the Word dwell in our hearts.

*The promise of joy and delight –

Jer 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.
Ps 119:111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

*The promise that our steps will not slip in our walk through life.

Psalm 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart; his steps do not slip.

The older we get the more it hurts physically when we slip and fall. I would do just about anything to try and keep myself safe from falling. Here is a promise that we will not slip in our path or journey of life when we have the word of God in our hearts.

*The promise that obedience will be a delight and not a burden.

Psal 40:8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

When the law or the word of God is in our hearts it becomes a delight and not a burden to obey it. We can enjoy and take pleasure in doing the will of God.

*The promise that the word will be a treasure and riches to me.

Psal 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

One of my favorite quotes on this is from George MacDonald. He wrote:

To understand the words of our Lord is the business of life. For it is the main road to the understanding of The Word himself. And to receive him is to receive the Father, and so to have Life in ourselves. And Life, the higher, the deeper, the simpler, the original is the business of life.

Let us encourage each other to read the Word, to listen to it, to memorize it, and to sing it. Thank you to all who are posting encouragement to me and to one another here at Living Whole With Chronic Pain. You are all so special and such a blessing!

Love and prayers,
Patti