[Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly] … through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit,
Summary: When Paul teaches us about Christ, he describes his personal experience with Jesus.
Years ago, I had a key fob with the words, “I sing because I’m happy!” written on it. It made me smile because it was true. Singing and happiness go together.
Of course, you can sing about sad things, too. That is why we have the “blues.”
Actually, both are appropriate for praising God.
Life happens. Just ask Job … or Paul. Both loved God and had their share of suffering (2 Corinthians 11:21-29).
What I love most about Paul’s message is that he focuses on Jesus Christ. Paul is a man who met the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. Although he doesn’t describe his encounters with Jesus after that, it seems clear from his writings that he received instruction (revelation) directly from Jesus, too.
When Paul talks about letting the “peace of Christ rule in your hearts” (verse) he is describing his experience with Jesus to us. When he writes about receiving “Christ Jesus as Lord” (Col 2:6), he is describing how his world changed when he met Jesus in person.
In this passage, he says, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly …” and then he describes how he himself expresses the joy he feels because of the “message of Christ.”
How do I know this?
I confess the Bible doesn’t explicitly say that Paul recited psalms and sang hymns while he walked along the road on his missionary journeys. It is possible that he was always somber and never happy. He could have been the kind of person who made up rules for people to follow without expecting them to apply to himself.
I confess these things are possible, but I don’t believe it. Not for a moment.
Paul is not a nut job. He is a man who was on a career path to be a leading Pharisee. He was more diligent than most, going out of his way to track down people who threatened his precious religion.
Then he met Jesus, and everything changed. Everything!
He gave up his personal life, his career, his social standing, and all his former hopes for the future. Everything Paul had wanted to be he regarded as garbage (Philippians 3:8).
Paul is a man who has one mission: To teach people about Jesus. He is not teaching anything that originated in the mind of man (Galatians 1:12). Instead, he is sharing his life with Jesus.
Paul is telling us how to live.
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly … through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit…”
Application: Let the joy of the Lord burst forth in song.
Food for Thought: In another letter, Paul writes, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves” (2 Cor 13:5). How does singing God’s praise relate to this verse?
How does singing God’s praise relate to Colossians 3:16d
Colossians 3:16, Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. AMP
Singing hymns, spiritual songs is a beautiful way to thank God, praise God as we remember Christ’s teachings. Songs carrying truths of Gods and His Word, remind us of His love and grace, as they help us worship and express our devotion to Him.
Believers are called to allow Christ in us to present the truth to others in a way it will be beautiful music to their ears. Whatever means we use to teach and admonish one another should be purposeful, and point to our Lord Jesus Christ, who alone is worthy of all praise.
We must allow the Holy Spirit guide us in the specific methods to use as we teach and admonish others in the manner each will be most receptive to the truths being presented.
Thank you, Ron!
When you write, “We must allow the Holy Spirit guide us…” that resonates with me. I completely agree!
There is one fascinating example of Paul and Silas singing hymns while in chains in prison. Others were listening in and it set quite an example that these men had a sincere faith. They were tested and came out singing to the Lord. It had enough of an impact that when the Lord opened the doors of escape all the prisoners remained in their cells to spare the Philippian jailer.
Acts 16: 25 – 29: About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” 29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
Thanks you, Rich!
That is a beautiful example of Paul’s singing!