“Let the word of Christ dwell in you abundantly”

 

 

This admonition, found in Colossians 3:16, is surely one of the most profound in the New Testament. Consider these words in conjunction with the following verses:

 

 John 15:7

“If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you wish, and it will be done for you.”

 

John 6:63

“The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.”

 

Romans 1:16

“I am not ashamed of the good news of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.”

 

1 Corinthians 1:18

“The preaching of the cross is the power of God...”

 

Mark 4: 26

“The kingdom of God is like a man sowing seed...”

 

Luke 8:11

“The seed is the word of God.”

 

Galatians 6:9

“Whatever a man sows this shall he also reap.”

 

2 Corinthians 9:6

“He who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly, he who sows abundantly, shall reap abundantly.”

 

1 John 2:24

“If that which you have heard...dwells in you, you shall dwell in the son, and in the father.”

 

The good news about all that Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection is “the word of Christ” which has been proclaimed in the world. God has said that His word will not fail to accomplish what He sent it to accomplish (Isaiah 55:11) - which is to reproduce in us the image and likeness of Jesus. (Galatians 4:19)

What is truly wonderful about this grand design, is that God has left it up to us to decide how much of the seed of His word we want to let dwell in us!  And, after deciding how much of His word we want to sow in our hearts, we also are also the ones to choose how much of that word we will believe!  (See Hebrews 4:2)   This is why Paul said “let the Word of Christ dwell in you in abundantly!”  It will not happen until we let it happen!