Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

This verse in Japanese is set to a very catchy tune, making for the very best sort of “ear worm.” Because the verse takes fewer syllables in English, I included content from the verses before and after when I translated it. (Let the Peace of Christ, on japanesechristianmusic.wordpress.com) Such songs are a good way to be obedient to this verse! That said, what is it to “Let the Word of Christ dwell in [us] richly?” Memorizing the Bible, with music or without, is a good start, but memorization alone doesn’t do it. The whole point is to let it work in us by thinking it over and applying it in all the little details of life. We tend to hear a message on Sunday morning, say, that’s nice, (if we really listen at all) and then forget about it before we even finish lunch. That’s hardly letting it in the front door, much less letting it live with us! When Psalm 1 speaks of someone with a God-pleasing lifestyle, it says, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:2) The Hebrew term for “meditate” could be rendered as “mutter,” that is, say over and over. In Old Testament times many if not most people were illiterate, so this was vitally important in getting the Word out to the people. Today, if we have a Bible app on our phone we can call up any verse at any time, but that doesn’t mean we’re letting the Word dwell in us, richly or not. The whole point is whether we’re living it out.

I don’t have a “smart” phone, but the availability of Bible apps is one of the biggest temptations in that direction. I do delight in using Bible software on my computers, and on this one, that I use for devotions and sermon preparation, Bible Explorer is the most frequently used program. That said, I know that technology is no substitute for a heart that is submitted to God. I have learned that hearing the Word, or reading it, without actively seeking to apply it in my life actually dulls me to it. That’s exactly what James was talking about in James 1:22 when he said that in doing that we are only deceiving ourselves. God of course is never deceived; He knows exactly how we are relating to Him and to what He has told us. As a pastor I am responsible to communicate the Word faithfully to my hearers, but if I am not applying it myself I will get little or no benefit in the process. I am to trust the Holy Spirit to bring His Word to life in my hearers, but I must allow Him to work fully in me as well. The Word of Christ is certainly up to the task!

Father, thank You for this reminder. Every bit of this section of Colossians is underlined, but if I stop with underlining it I have accomplished nothing. Help me indeed live it out, so that Your Word may accomplish everything for which You send it, (Isaiah 55:11) for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!