“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16 ESV).
Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Colossae to affirm the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ and to protect them from false teachings. He reminded them that in Christ “all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell” (Col.1:19). Against that backdrop, Paul urged the Colossians not merely to learn *about* Christ but to *let* His Word dwell richly within them. The phrase “dwell” means to make a permanent home. Paul was calling the church to allow both the written Word and the Living Word—Christ Himself—to take up residence in their hearts. As that Word lived within them, it would naturally overflow in teaching, correcting, and worshiping together with wisdom and gratitude. They were to let this Word-dwelling life overflow into congregational teaching, preaching and singing, saturated with theological truth and heartfelt thanksgiving.
It’s one thing for us to read Scripture; it’s another to let Scripture *read us.” The Word can’t dwell where it isn’t welcomed. We can fill our minds with verses yet keep our hearts closed to their transforming power. Paul’s call still stands—to let Christ’s Word live richly within us until it fills every room of our inner life. When we meditate on the Word, obey it, and internalize its truth, Christ Himself rules from within. Then our conversations and our congregational worship become gracious, our wisdom sound, our songs sincere, and our hearts grateful. Let us open ourselves fully to the Word of Christ so that His presence overflows from our lives to others.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for giving us the Word of Christ. Forgive us for the times we’ve only listened without letting it take root. Help us to let Your Word dwell richly within us, shaping our thoughts, our speech, and our worship. May Your truth fill our hearts, our homes and our houses of worship, overflowing in wisdom, song, and gratitude. We ask this in Jesus’ name, amen.