SPEND QUALITY TIME IN GOD'S WORD

WEDNESDAY 12 JANUARY 2022

When engaging in the ministry of the Word, we must give it our utmost attention and time. The person who spends quality time in the Word on a daily basis will certainly be grounded and rooted in Christ and can be likened to a tree planted near water that constantly receives life sustaining nourishment.

Reference: Colossians 3:16 King James Version (KJV) "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 Christ is defined as the words of eternal life and the full message of this new life. They are not ordinary knowledge or message. So what Paul is saying here is simple: Gain high value knowledge and make yourself a dwelling place for such knowledge. Therefore, we must purposefully encourage the regular or daily intake of the Word into our inward process by conscious effort to the level of growing richly in all the manifold wisdom it communicates.

To dwell is to live in or at a specified place. In the Greek Lexicon, the word for "dwell" is "Katoikeo" which means to "inhabit and settle". When the Word of Christ settles in a Christian, it spreads through and becomes present and evident, such that it can be perceived in every part of or throughout the inward system of that Christian, thereby permeating every aspect of his being.

When Paul talks about storing up the Word of Christ richly in us, the good question to ask is, "what are we actually storing up"? On the inside, we store up the words of eternal treasure, full of life, divine power and influence which in turn, govern our Christian experience and existence. Remember that Jesus said, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you- they are full of the Spirit and life" (John 6:63 NIV).

Now watch this: Although they can be considered the same, why did Paul specifically mention the "word of Christ" instead of the general term, "Word of God"? Its because he wanted to open the eyes of the churches in Colossae, as well as the church of the Laodiceans, to the precise and peculiar importance of living in "intimate union" with Christ, and so our referenced Scripture contains Pauline instruction on how the saints could attain this divine reality.

The easiest way to become one with Christ and His wondrous life in a practical sense is to house His Word. In the spiritual sense and realm, we receive and become one with Christ through the prayer of salvation, but in the natural realm, this spiritual transaction is consummated by observing our referenced Scripture. That means, the Word of Christ binds us up with Him such that we inextricably stick together as one in the earth realm and also function accordingly.

Beloved, Proverbs 4:13 reads, "Hold on to instruction; do not let go. Guard it well, for it is your life" (NIV). What is today's topic? Spend quality time in God's Word - That is the only way to let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Then what next? Spend time with fellow saints - growing and mature ones, encouraging one another day after day with the treasure you've piled up on the inside. Teach, counsel and admonish one another with all wisdom the Word conveys and blend it with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing with grace and gratitude to God in your heart.

In a nutshell, we grasp that drinking water or any other liquid during or after a quality meal aids digestion and helps break the food down in least particles so that one's body can absorb the nutrients. In like manner, singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with thanksgiving are the spiritual healthy drinks that improve and facilitate the digestion of God's Word. That's the right way to maintain a healthy spiritual lifestyle. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - Psalm 1:1-3; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 119:97-99; Proverbs 4:20-22; 1 Timothy 4:13-15.

Exuberant Declaration: I'm a product of the Spirit and the word of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Everything the Word makes me is extraordinary and exceptional and it sustains my greatness within and apparently. By meditating on the Scriptures and practising them, I experience the manifestation of the effulgence of God's glory in my life. As a habit, from my inmost being, I worship and sing spiritual songs with an attitude of gratitude to God. Thank you Lord!