Put On, Outerwear (Colossians 3:16-17)
[16] 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. [17] And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17 ESV)
Sometimes we need help changing at our core. The outward things that mold who we are, train our character and transform us are what Paul mentions next in his list of things we should “put on” as we assume the character of Christ.
The Word is the most useful and transformative agent of change in our lives. We can use it to help us see the things we need to change in ourselves, but also to teach others. Taking the truth of scripture and turning it into poetry and songs is a useful way to help us keep it in mind and in our hearts.
The attitude that encompasses our whole being should be one of constant thankfulness. No matter how uncertain the future seems nor how challenging our present can be, it is always better than it could have been if we were on our own. With God in our lives and in control, we can live with perfect hope, and that is a constant source of thanksgiving.
Well said about putting on the character of Christ, The power of the Word. attitude of constant thankfulness.
ReplyDeleteYes, we need to be changed from inside out.
But, the meaning of singing, of songs, of musicmaking goes, I believe, deaper then just the pedagogigue functional one. Just as thankfulness is of constance sourse, so is music. Our singing, through voice and instruments, is just a reflection of God in Christ. We sing not just about mercy and thankfulness, but of His mercy, of thankfulness born out of Gods Grace in Christ.