November 21
The Word of
Christ Dwells Richly
Colossians 3:16
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Daily Steps
The Mandate for Discipleship (Day 326) requires a foundational resource: the Word of Christ. This passage describes the ideal atmosphere of a healthy, actively discipling church—one where Christ's message is central, saturating the community so profoundly that it results in mutual teaching, wisdom, and joyful, heartfelt worship.
The peace in this principle is found in spiritual saturation:
The Central Command: The core instruction is: Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly. The "message of Christ" is the Gospel and the whole of His Word (Day 269). For it to dwell richly means it is abundant, deeply understood, and constantly prioritized in the life of the community (The Authority of Scripture, Day 271).
The Mutual Ministry: The abundance of the Word leads directly to discipleship: as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom. This confirms that discipleship is not just top-down (equipping, Day 326), but mutual. Every believer is called to teach, correct, and encourage others, all motivated by godly wisdom (Day 291).
The Overflow of Worship: The final result of a community saturated with Christ's Word is overflowing gratitude and worship. This worship is expressed not just through formal teaching, but through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit—a heartfelt, spontaneous expression of joy (Day 261) and thankfulness to God.
Your peace is secured by spiritual saturation. Embrace The Mandate for Discipleship today by dedicating yourself to allowing the Word of Christ to dwell richly in your own heart. Then, actively look for opportunities to use that rich Word to teach and admonish one another in your church family.
Reflective Question
How richly does the message of Christ currently dwell in your heart? What is one specific way you can use a psalm, hymn, or song from the Spirit today to express gratitude to God or to admonish a fellow believer?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I confess my tendency to allow the temporary messages of the world to overshadow Your eternal truth. I pray that the message of Christ may dwell among me richly, flooding my heart and mind. I pray for the courage and wisdom to teach and admonish one another with love. Secure my peace today in this spiritual saturation, and let my life overflow with genuine gratitude and worship. Amen.
