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. – Colossians 3:16

Scripture reading: Ephesians 4:15-16

Does the Word of Christ dwell in you and among your congregation? In the light of verse 16, take a test. First, what place does reading, meditating and studying the Bible have in your life and the life of the congregation? The more we do this, the more the Word will dwell in every part of our being, our thoughts, feelings and desires, being a living force in our lives, encouraging us to daily die with Christ and rise with Him to a new life so that He is all and in all.

The second test is: what place does teaching and admonishing one another with the Word have in your marriage, family and congregation? By nature, we love ourselves more than our neighbour. That’s why we need to teach and admonish one another with the Word and others need to do this to us so that our love can be conformed to the image of Christ. This is not easy and needs to be done with wisdom. When we do this, the Word of Christ will dwell in us and among us and the body of Christ will build itself up in love (Ephesians 4:16).

The third test is: what place does singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness have in your life and the life of the congregation? Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ involves feelings and desires. Music influences our feelings and desires. The more we sing Christian songs and listen to them, the more the Word of Christ will dwell in our hearts.

Suggestions for prayer

Ask your heavenly Father to enable you to make a good use of the means of grace He has given you to have the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.

This daily devotional is available in a print edition you can buy at Nearer to God Devotional. Rev. Dick Moes is pastor emeritus of the Surrey Covenant Reformed Church in Surrey, BC.