SATURDAY April 2, 2022

Worship and the Word

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. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:16-17

Are you taking the necessary time to let the Word of God dwell in you richly? How is this accomplished? Underline the word let in your Bible. To let God’s Word dwell in you means to let the indwelling Word of Christ dwell internally in your heart. It takes time, effort and sacrifice to sit still and allow the Word of God to saturate your heart and mind.

God’s Word is often likened to water. Think about a deep well of water or large body of water kept in a reservoir. These places store rainwater for later use during a time of drought. As we let God’s Word dwell in us richly during times of drought in our lives––those difficult dry seasons of trial, trouble or temptation––we are able to simply draw from these rich water supplies to sustain our souls. As we sink down into the depths of God’s Word, each of us will create our own personal wells and reservoirs to draw from.

When you read your Bible, really think about what you are reading and mediate on it; do not just skim through the chapters and verses. Heed any exhortations. Joshua, the man chosen to lead Israel, was exhorted:

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).

Many hymns and spiritual songs are taken from the Word of God. As you sing, the Lord listens. When you worship, have you ever begun to weep? There is nothing wrong with weeping and lifting your hands up to the Lord. It is an act of surrender.

Worship is love on its knees before the beloved; just as missions is love on its feet to serve the beloved.
~NT Wright~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!