Allow God’s Word to Dwell With You

As much as I love having visitors stay with us as a family, there will inevitably come a moment when they will have to pack up and return to their homes to continue their lives and careers. Their visit will end, and their spaces will be empty as soon as they depart. Pleasant memories will remain, and we will look forward to a next time, somewhere in the future, when we will meet again for a season of hospitality and festive meals together. However, we cannot treat God’s Word as merely a beloved visitor in our lives.

Paul writes that the Lord’s message should be allowed to dwell among us richly, lavishly, and abundantly in his letter to the Colossian believers. The Good News of God’s love and saving power in the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus cannot become a pleasant memory of a brief visit in our consciousness.

To dwell means staying, living with, or cohabiting in the same space. It means that someone who resides is not a stranger or visitor but a family member who does not leave. This message of God’s amazing grace must remain amongst us abundantly, not to be forgotten but constantly nurtured and cultivated.

It is so easy to believe the lie of the devil that God does not care about us or wants to deprive us of a good life. A wise person allows the powerful words of God’s love and provision to indwell their hearts rather than occasionally visit. It is not enough to be reminded of God’s love once a week on Sundays at church. No way! Every day!

Throughout the day, the wise person allows the words of life to wash their consciousness so that no lie will get a hold of their emotions. How do you do it?