Today I want to reflect on a few verses from Colossians that have been suggested for us to share. They are found towards the end of Chapter 3 and are verses 15-17:
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 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. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
As you see, Paul is prompting us to fill our minds and lives with spiritually healthy things. Things like the the word of God, music and songs. Often the word of God is encapsulated in songs, and many recent worship songs try to focus our hearts and minds on key bible ideas that will stay with us once we are away from the church service and everyday life is more compelling.
One such song that I love is "Every promise of your word" and below I have pasted a YouTube link, so that you can listen to it again!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3l8RVhxndYg
In these verses, Paul has just finished explaining how we should live now that God has rescued us from the dominion of darkness (1 v 13), how that we should now live in the 'kingdom of light'. He has shown us how Christ's death has reconciled us to God (1 v 20).
Next he teaches us how to grow, being strengthened in our faith (2 v 6); he also shows us how useless mere 'religious observances' are. (2 v 22)
Paul's answer to all this is found in chapter 3 verse 1, where he exhorts us to set our hearts and minds on Christ and on 'things above'.
But it is in the verses we have at the top of this post, that Paul gets down to the practicalities. By reading the bible, by singing spiritual songs that are based on God's word, we can really force our unruly minds to focus!
In those verses are another key to making our faith real.... that is to practice gratitude and thankfulness (verses 15 & 16). As we deliberately put aside the negative things and thank God and those around us for the many blessings we have, we are suddenly praying; the third string to our bow.
When those three things coincide: God's word, prayer and spiritual songs then the peace that Paul promises has the opportunity to descend to rule in our hearts. Worry, doubt and fear will be dethroned and Jesus will take His rightful place once more.
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