Obedience

Colossians 3:16-17  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teach and admonish one another in all wisdom, and sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 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.


One purpose of our life in Christ is to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. I've thought about that often and even for myself I would say that it is easier to let the love of Christ dwell in me richly than to let the word of Christ dwell in me richly. I think we often even mistake the two or substitute the two. The rector on Sunday did a stewardship sermon. He said he hated to talk about stewardship because people turn off immediately that internal button for listening because they think it's all about the money. He then said it's not about the money, it's about obedience. Obedience for me comes from letting the word of Christ dwell in me richly. That can be much more uncomfortable than the love of Christ. With the word of Christ dwelling in us richly we can teach and admonish one another in all wisdom. The love of Christ dwelling in us richly might give us all a warm fuzzy feeling to share, but is not much to teach and admonish about. I love to focus on the love of Christ, his love for me and my love for him. It changed my life permanently for good, this love of Christ which dwells in me richly. The problem is it is only a starting place for a life of obedience. Having experienced the love of Christ we are called to discipleship which requires that the word of Christ dwell in us richly.


When I get too comfortable in the love of Christ I read again and again just the sermon on the mount. Perhaps Matthew's gospel chapters five to eight. My comfort becomes uncomfortable as I let those word dwell richly, especially as I read them as my call to obedience.