INDWELT BY GOD’S WORD

“Let the WORD of CHRIST DWELL in you RICHLY in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another” – Colossians 3:16a

The divine desire is for every Believer to be INDWELT BY GOD’S 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” (Col.3:16). Paul was literarily saying: “Let the Word be at home in your heart”! To “let” means to allow or permit. It infers inviting God’s Word into our hearts and minds. God won't force His Word upon us. We have to make the willing choice to allow it entry; not through a crack in the door or with the door chain on so it cannot open too wide. No, we must open widely the door to our hearts and minds, and ask the Holy Spirit to flood our souls to saturation with the Word.

“The Word of Christ” is the Gospel, the doctrine of Christ, or the truth which has Christ for its subject. “In you” is not simply among you. God demands that His Word have enduring abode in the heart and mind of each of His children. He is saying: “Let it be no stranger or occasional guest in your hearts. Let it not be without you, as a lesson to be learned, but within you, as the source of cherished and permanent illumination. Let My Word be completely understood, and the soul fully under its influence. Let it dwell in you richly and abundantly, not with a scanty foothold, but with a large and liberal occupancy!

God’s Word cannot come out of you if it is not first in you. This is vital for sustenance of Spirit-filled believers. In a parallel passage, Paul discusses the effects of being continually filled with the Holy Spirit: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph.5: 18-21). The effects of being filled with the Spirit and being filled with the Word of Christ are virtually identical.

If we will read, study, and meditate in God’s Words until we are thrilled by truth, His Spirit will fill our hearts and minds. God’s Word will change our attitudes, such that we can increasingly experience the peace and serenity that characterized the life of Christ. We can do nothing by ourselves, but as we let our Saviour live through us, others will see Him in all we do. The Lord Jesus Christ spoke of the Indwelling Word: “If you abide in Me, and MY WORDS ABIDE IN YOU, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (Jh.15:7). When His Word dwells in us, it produces abundant fruit for His Glory: “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (Jh.15:8).

Being indwelt by God’s Word is not only committing the Word to memory, which is valuable, but letting it become an integral part of our being. The Word lives in us. It takes residence and root in us. Christ and the Word are one. The Word dwelling in us is equivalent to Christ personally being in us: “that CHRIST may DWELL in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love” (Eph.3:17). Letting the Word have right-of-way in your life is letting Christ have right-of-way. The Dominion of the Word in you is the Lordship of Christ in you! Ultimately, we are to express the Indwelling Word!

Beloved, let the Bible be your companion in hours of solitude; your solace in seasons of sorrow; the store-house in all your necessities; your partner in the place of praise and of prayers; and your counsellor in times of doubt and perplexities. Spend time in God’s Word today so that you’ll be richly rewarded and others will see Christ in your attitudes and actions.