Col 3:16-17 | KingComments | STEP | . The “peace of Christ” ( ) is here followed by the “word of Christ” which is the Word of God. In this Word everything speaks of Christ. The Word of God is also the Word of Christ. He gave it. He is the source of it. As the exalted Christ, He gives you the necessary instructions for the way, through His Word. The voice of the Word of God is the voice of Christ. As you have seen so many times in this letter, all the focus is on Him again. The whole Word of God as the Word of Christ must dwell in you and indeed richly. “Dwell” means that the Word of Christ feels at home with you, that there are no things in your life that conflict with the Word. “Richly” means that your heart and mind are full of it so that your conversation with believers and unbelievers is dominated by it. You have to not only know the Word but you must apply it to everything that you face in life. You cannot keep the Word to yourself. If you are full of something and even overflowing of it you want to share it with others. The big question however is whether you have something that you can share with others. If you are filled with other things then those are the things you would like to tell others of. “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” ( ). Christians are known in their interactions with one another because they share with one another the things of Christ. In their day to day life and in their assembling together they are in a position to teach each other what is the will of God. If necessary it can also be an admonition . However this should be done “with all wisdom” and not with emotional agitation. Otherwise this will cause to pull down rather than build up. Another remarkable instrument for teaching and admonishing is singing. It points to the lovely way in which we may point one another to Christ. By the singing of a song, the voice of Christ is heard more than when one attempts to teach another about God tactlessly or with a raised voice. The voice of Christ will be heard when your heart is filled with thankfulness. Thankfulness is the room and the atmosphere in which singing takes place. This is brought to expression through singing and is the result of what thankfulness has done inwardly. In this frame of mind you can get into the presence of the triune God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. If the word of Christ dwells in us, there will be constant praise in our hearts ( ). This can manifest itself in various forms of songs: 1. “Psalms” are songs in which emotions are expressed by the psalmist when he went through certain experiences, especially suffering. 2. “Hymns” are more a response to Divine revelation. Admiration of God and the worship of the Lord Jesus are expressed in the hymns. 3. “Spiritual songs” are more, like a prayer, expressing a particular desire of the soul. It is the most general expression for the content of the song: it is about a spiritual topic. The similarity among these song patterns is that they flow from having their roots in the Word. If the songs are good it is because they are from the Word. Only if the indwelling Word fills the heart, songs can be sung in the right spirit with grateful admiration and worship. . Not only our singing must be to God, but “whatever you do” should be to the glory of God. All things, “whatever you do in word or deed”, includes any area of your life. Everything in your life should be under the rule of the Lord Jesus. It is not just about the fact that the Lord Jesus can give His approval to your actions. If you do something in His Name you must be convinced that it is His will. You then act only on His authority. You can certainly have a desire to do something for the Lord but what is important is that you do what the Lord expects from you. You don’t need to think of doing a big work or a sermon before a large crowd. It is all about the day to day things like friendly actions or an encouraging word. Only do it when you can do it “in the name of the Lord Jesus”. When it cannot be done in the Name of the Lord then you should not do it. One of the indicators that you are in agreement with the Lord in word or deed is that you are able to giving thanks to the Father. Again the emphasis is on giving thanks ( ). You can only do that if you are sure that He is with you in the way you are going. Then you will not ask Him to go with you in the way you think is right – you ask Him which way He wants you to go. Giving thanks happens here “through Him”. Our giving thanks to God the Father always finds its reason in the Son He gave, and in all things given to us in the Son. You will find how the whole practice of life is related to the Father and the Son. This raises your daily life to quite a high level! Now read Colossians 3:16-17 again. Reflection: Does the Word of Christ dwell in you richly?

‏ Colossians 3:16-17

Do All in the Name of the Lord Jesus

Col 3:16. The “peace of Christ” (Col 3:15) is here followed by the “word of Christ” which is the Word of God. In this Word everything speaks of Christ. The Word of God is also the Word of Christ. He gave it. He is the source of it. As the exalted Christ, He gives you the necessary instructions for the way, through His Word. The voice of the Word of God is the voice of Christ. As you have seen so many times in this letter, all the focus is on Him again.

The whole Word of God as the Word of Christ must dwell in you and indeed richly. “Dwell” means that the Word of Christ feels at home with you, that there are no things in your life that conflict with the Word. “Richly” means that your heart and mind are full of it so that your conversation with believers and unbelievers is dominated by it. You have to not only know the Word but you must apply it to everything that you face in life.

You cannot keep the Word to yourself. If you are full of something and even overflowing of it you want to share it with others. The big question however is whether you have something that you can share with others. If you are filled with other things then those are the things you would like to tell others of. “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Mt 12:34). Christians are known in their interactions with one another because they share with one another the things of Christ.

In their day to day life and in their assembling together they are in a position to teach each other what is the will of God. If necessary it can also be an admonition. However this should be done “with all wisdom” and not with emotional agitation. Otherwise this will cause to pull down rather than build up.

Another remarkable instrument for teaching and admonishing is singing. It points to the lovely way in which we may point one another to Christ. By the singing of a song, the voice of Christ is heard more than when one attempts to teach another about God tactlessly or with a raised voice. The voice of Christ will be heard when your heart is filled with thankfulness.

Thankfulness is the room and the atmosphere in which singing takes place. This is brought to expression through singing and is the result of what thankfulness has done inwardly. In this frame of mind you can get into the presence of the triune God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

If the word of Christ dwells in us, there will be constant praise in our hearts (Heb 13:15). This can manifest itself in various forms of songs:

1. “Psalms” are songs in which emotions are expressed by the psalmist when he went through certain experiences, especially suffering.

2. “Hymns” are more a response to Divine revelation. Admiration of God and the worship of the Lord Jesus are expressed in the hymns.

3. “Spiritual songs” are more, like a prayer, expressing a particular desire of the soul. It is the most general expression for the content of the song: it is about a spiritual topic.

The similarity among these song patterns is that they flow from having their roots in the Word. If the songs are good it is because they are from the Word. Only if the indwelling Word fills the heart, songs can be sung in the right spirit with grateful admiration and worship.

Col 3:17. Not only our singing must be to God, but “whatever you do” should be to the glory of God. All things, “whatever you do in word or deed”, includes any area of your life. Everything in your life should be under the rule of the Lord Jesus. It is not just about the fact that the Lord Jesus can give His approval to your actions. If you do something in His Name you must be convinced that it is His will. You then act only on His authority.

You can certainly have a desire to do something for the Lord but what is important is that you do what the Lord expects from you. You don’t need to think of doing a big work or a sermon before a large crowd. It is all about the day to day things like friendly actions or an encouraging word. Only do it when you can do it “in the name of the Lord Jesus”. When it cannot be done in the Name of the Lord then you should not do it.

One of the indicators that you are in agreement with the Lord in word or deed is that you are able to giving thanks to the Father. Again the emphasis is on giving thanks (Col 1:3 ; 12 ; Col 2:7 ; Col 3:15 ; 17 ; Col 4:2). You can only do that if you are sure that He is with you in the way you are going. Then you will not ask Him to go with you in the way you think is right – you ask Him which way He wants you to go.

Giving thanks happens here “through Him”. Our giving thanks to God the Father always finds its reason in the Son He gave, and in all things given to us in the Son. You will find how the whole practice of life is related to the Father and the Son. This raises your daily life to quite a high level!

Now read Colossians 3:16-17 again.

Reflection: Does the Word of Christ dwell in you richly?