LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY

Passage: Colossians 3:11-17

Key verse: 16

NIV

11 Here there is no Gentile or Jew,(A) circumcised or uncircumcised,(B) barbarian, Scythian, slave or free,(C) but Christ is all,(D) and is in all.

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves(E) with compassion, kindness, humility,(F) gentleness and patience.(G) 13 Bear with each other(H) and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.(I) 14 And over all these virtues put on love,(J) which binds them all together in perfect unity.(K)

15 Let the peace of Christ(L) rule in your hearts, since as members of one body(M) you were called to peace.(N) And be thankful. 16 Let the message of Christ(O) dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom(P) through psalms,(Q) hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.(R) 17 And whatever you do,(S) whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks(T) to God the Father through him.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

11 (A)Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[a] free; but Christ is (B)all, and in all.

12 (C)Put on then, as (D)God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, (E)compassionate hearts, (F)kindness, (G)humility, meekness, and patience, 13 (H)bearing with one another and, (I)if one has a complaint against another, (J)forgiving each other; (K)as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on (L)love, which (M)binds everything together in (N)perfect harmony. 15 And let (O)the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called (P)in one body. And (Q)be thankful. 16 Let (R)the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, (S)singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, (T)with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And (U)whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, (V)giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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Footnotes
  1. Colossians 3:11 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; likewise for Bondservants in verse 22
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Above all, put on love (11-14)

God's people are chosen from every race, sex, nationality and human condition. We have one thing in common--Christ is in us all. So we must love one another; we must bear with one another and forgive each other as Christ has forgiven us. We must be clothed in the compassion, kindness, humility and patience of Jesus.

2. Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts (15-16)

We are members of one body, called to peace. When God's word is in our hearts, then we can encourage one another without criticism, sing songs of praise to God, and be joyful, happy Christians.

3. Be thankful (17)

Gratitude to God and thankfulness are mentioned three times in these few verses. God wants us to be thankful--with no complaints about anything.

Prayer: Lord, let your word dwell richly in my heart. Give me your peace, and help me to grow in Jesus' image. Thank you for Christian brothers and sisters.

One Word: Let God's word dwell in you