A key we should always carry
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 3:16-17)
There is an interesting progression in Colossians 3:16-17 and it begins with the word “Let”. This tiny word expresses the willingness that is needed for the word of Christ to dwell in our hearts richly. The experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is a good example of what Paul is explaining. The Lord Jesus drew near to walk with them and talk to them of things concerning Himself. After He disappeared, they said to each other, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32). Christ dwelt in their hearts as He unfolded the wisdom of God in His pathway of suffering that led to glory. First, the Lord had to admonish them because of their lack of understanding, and their hesitant faith, which He called slowness of heart. Admonition is intended, not only to identify problems, but to clear them away and replace them with the blessing of spiritual teaching. The Lord in grace emptied their hearts of spiritual poverty to fill them with Himself. It was this ministry which caused them to compel Him to stay with them and gave them the joy of seeing the resurrected Saviour. We should never, ever forget that Christ should always be the centre of our ministry in all its forms.
There are two responses to the word of Christ dwelling in us richly. The first is worship in song. The Psalms express the wide scope of praise and worship. Hymns emphasise the single object of praise – God. Spiritual songs celebrate the spiritual blessings we have in Christ. During the lockdown, June and I have not been entirely alone. Early every morning, in the evening (and often in between), and as I write, we have a visitor. He is very conscious of social distancing, so, instead of coming into our home, he always sits on the highest branch of the large tree at the end of our garden. He is a blackbird. And every day he sings his heart out. Isn’t it amazing that one of the smallest of God’s creatures has such a joyous sound? Grace, in our hearts, puts joyous songs on our lips: the sacrifice of praise. This is expressed when we meet together and join our voices as one in harmony to God. We are often aware of our limited musical ability, and we shouldn’t be careless in our singing. But perhaps we don’t realise the pleasure that God has listening to the melody of our hearts addressed to Him, as we contemplate the wonder of His grace. This melody is sanctified by the ministry of the Holy Spirit of God and the Son of God. We should also raise our hearts to God in praise during the day when we are touched by that same grace. You sense this when Paul’s heart was filled with the wonder of the Lord standing by him and he writes a song that was, I believe, in his heart at that moment, “To Him be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (2 Timothy 4:18).
The second response is work. The word of Christ richly dwelling in our hearts equips us for all the practicalities of life, both at its most menial level and also at its highest level. Truly heavenlyminded people are the most practical of people. Worshippers are workers. Those who offer “the sacrifice of praise to God” are also those who “do not forget to do good and to share, for, with such sacrifices, God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:15-16). “Let” is the key of obedience which allows the unbounded richness of the grace of our Lord Jesus to flood into our lives. It is a key we should always carry.
