What the Bible Contains: Pt. 15 Let it fill our memory, Rule our heart and Guide our steps.
Good Morning.....
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Seeking and setting our mind upon things above.
Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Paul's letter to the believers at Colosse is filled with joyous truth for the born again child of God. According to his normal pattern Paul begins by giving us sound doctrine in chapters 1-2 and follows that by explaining our Christian duties in chapters 3-4.
The apostle begins by giving us the right perspective for all of life. Paul urges believers to seek those things which are above, or as our Lord put it, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33). Our gaze turns toward heaven as we become preoccupied with the Jesus Christ.
The word "seek" means to make a diligent effort to discover truth in God's Word. It is careful study that causes us to think about God's truth, meditate upon it and crave it.
The word "affection" means to be like minded. That is, we agree with God that we need to fill our mind and soul with His Word. As believers in a local church we seek to be like minded and allowing the scripture to set the parameters for all that we seek to do in ministry while serving God and others.
Allowing truth from God to fully fill our minds.
Colossians 3:16 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.
The Word of God is meant to dwell in us richly. We can memorize scripture to fill our minds with truth.
We can read truth every day as we sit before the Lord in stillness of heart and pray for Him to direct our steps in His Word. The repetition of daily reading helps cement His truth in our minds and helps us to memorize it.
Having the Word dwell in us richly means that His truth is copiously and conspicuously present in our minds. Scripture contains living truth (Hebrews 4:12) that does a great work in our heart. It transforms the way that we think and guides what we do. No wonder Jesus said His Words were spirit and life to men's souls (John 6:63).
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
In the text above Paul has a good list of things that we ought to think about in our daily lives. He relates the source of those good things. Paul tells us that the good things we need to fill our minds with come from scripture that the people learned, received and heard from Paul's apostolic teaching.
Allowing truth from God to rule our hearts.
Colossians 3:16 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.
In the same text where we learn that we need the Word of God to dwell in our hearts richly, we also see what can happen when it rules our hearts. The scripture brings wisdom into our lives that we could never know apart from taking in God's Word.
What does it look like when it rules our hearts? Scripture admonishes us when we need to be reminded to do that which is right in the sight of God.
Truth from God ruling our hearts results in filling of our soul with psalms from the Old Testament. His truth cultivates an attitude of worship in our heart because the psalms are often called the Hebrew Hymnal.
It leads to singing hymns in our minds extolling the excellence of Christ. Hymns are sacred songs rooted in Bible truth with music that reverences the LORD. It leads to spiritual songs and singing motivated by the grace of God poured out of us.
Allowing Truth from God to Guide our Steps.
Colossians 3:8-15 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Now, this is where the rubber meets the road in terms of the practical outworking of the Word of God dwelling in us richly. What does it look like when we allow the Word of God to guide our steps?
We will have a heart actively worshiping the Lord and living out this truth in our daily interactions with other people. The first parts of this post focus on loving God. This part focuses on loving others around us.
There is a "putting off" that must happen. Paul speaks in terms of putting off the old man, that awful person we were prior to salvation changing our life. The putting off of various actions or attitudes is what happens when we allow the scripture to guide our steps.
We must put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication and lying. Each one of these actions are singled out in the law of God as sin and we must put them off. We put things off by seeking the help of God's indwelling Spirit.
When we allow the Word of God to guide our steps in the process of "putting on" the new man we will see more things change in our lives. First, our minds will be renewed into thinking more and more how Christ wants us to think, so that we want more of Christ and He has more of our hearts.
When we allow the Word of God to guide our steps we will become merciful, kind, and humble of heart. We will have a meek spirit and a long suffering attitude toward others. We will be more willing to forgive others because we understand how Christ unconditionally forgave our sins. Knowing this, how could we not forgive others?
Thoughts to Ponder...
What a blessing it is when we are willing to be still before the Lord and really seek Him in His Word. His Word can fill our mind with living truth and when we commit it to memory we can pull scripture truth out of our minds when we are telling someone about the Lord.
When the Word of God dwells in us richly it impacts us by governing our heart. We will be focused on worship and have psalms, hymns and spiritual songs present in our minds. We will be motivated by His grace.
When the Word of God dwells in us richly we will put off the old man things that drag us down and will put on the new creation things we find in Christ. We will have the fruit of the Spirit become evident in our lives. We will love God and love others.
I pray that we will allow the Word of God to do its powerful work in our hearts so that we may live the life that God intends for us to have....a Joyfilled life. Now that's the kind of life I desire, how about you?
Bob
Psalm 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Seeking and setting our mind upon things above.
Colossians 3:1-2 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
Paul's letter to the believers at Colosse is filled with joyous truth for the born again child of God. According to his normal pattern Paul begins by giving us sound doctrine in chapters 1-2 and follows that by explaining our Christian duties in chapters 3-4.
The apostle begins by giving us the right perspective for all of life. Paul urges believers to seek those things which are above, or as our Lord put it, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God" (Matthew 6:33). Our gaze turns toward heaven as we become preoccupied with the Jesus Christ.
The word "seek" means to make a diligent effort to discover truth in God's Word. It is careful study that causes us to think about God's truth, meditate upon it and crave it.
The word "affection" means to be like minded. That is, we agree with God that we need to fill our mind and soul with His Word. As believers in a local church we seek to be like minded and allowing the scripture to set the parameters for all that we seek to do in ministry while serving God and others.
Allowing truth from God to fully fill our minds.
Colossians 3:16 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.
The Word of God is meant to dwell in us richly. We can memorize scripture to fill our minds with truth.
We can read truth every day as we sit before the Lord in stillness of heart and pray for Him to direct our steps in His Word. The repetition of daily reading helps cement His truth in our minds and helps us to memorize it.
Having the Word dwell in us richly means that His truth is copiously and conspicuously present in our minds. Scripture contains living truth (Hebrews 4:12) that does a great work in our heart. It transforms the way that we think and guides what we do. No wonder Jesus said His Words were spirit and life to men's souls (John 6:63).
Philippians 4:8-9 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
In the text above Paul has a good list of things that we ought to think about in our daily lives. He relates the source of those good things. Paul tells us that the good things we need to fill our minds with come from scripture that the people learned, received and heard from Paul's apostolic teaching.
Allowing truth from God to rule our hearts.
Colossians 3:16 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.
In the same text where we learn that we need the Word of God to dwell in our hearts richly, we also see what can happen when it rules our hearts. The scripture brings wisdom into our lives that we could never know apart from taking in God's Word.
What does it look like when it rules our hearts? Scripture admonishes us when we need to be reminded to do that which is right in the sight of God.
Truth from God ruling our hearts results in filling of our soul with psalms from the Old Testament. His truth cultivates an attitude of worship in our heart because the psalms are often called the Hebrew Hymnal.
It leads to singing hymns in our minds extolling the excellence of Christ. Hymns are sacred songs rooted in Bible truth with music that reverences the LORD. It leads to spiritual songs and singing motivated by the grace of God poured out of us.
Allowing Truth from God to Guide our Steps.
Colossians 3:8-15 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. 9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: 11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
Now, this is where the rubber meets the road in terms of the practical outworking of the Word of God dwelling in us richly. What does it look like when we allow the Word of God to guide our steps?
We will have a heart actively worshiping the Lord and living out this truth in our daily interactions with other people. The first parts of this post focus on loving God. This part focuses on loving others around us.
There is a "putting off" that must happen. Paul speaks in terms of putting off the old man, that awful person we were prior to salvation changing our life. The putting off of various actions or attitudes is what happens when we allow the scripture to guide our steps.
We must put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication and lying. Each one of these actions are singled out in the law of God as sin and we must put them off. We put things off by seeking the help of God's indwelling Spirit.
When we allow the Word of God to guide our steps in the process of "putting on" the new man we will see more things change in our lives. First, our minds will be renewed into thinking more and more how Christ wants us to think, so that we want more of Christ and He has more of our hearts.
When we allow the Word of God to guide our steps we will become merciful, kind, and humble of heart. We will have a meek spirit and a long suffering attitude toward others. We will be more willing to forgive others because we understand how Christ unconditionally forgave our sins. Knowing this, how could we not forgive others?
Thoughts to Ponder...
What a blessing it is when we are willing to be still before the Lord and really seek Him in His Word. His Word can fill our mind with living truth and when we commit it to memory we can pull scripture truth out of our minds when we are telling someone about the Lord.
When the Word of God dwells in us richly it impacts us by governing our heart. We will be focused on worship and have psalms, hymns and spiritual songs present in our minds. We will be motivated by His grace.
When the Word of God dwells in us richly we will put off the old man things that drag us down and will put on the new creation things we find in Christ. We will have the fruit of the Spirit become evident in our lives. We will love God and love others.
I pray that we will allow the Word of God to do its powerful work in our hearts so that we may live the life that God intends for us to have....a Joyfilled life. Now that's the kind of life I desire, how about you?
Bob
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