And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 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 3:14-16
People all around us have preconceived notions as to what the Christian life is about. Some view the life as one filled with drudgery and life that is generally miserable because “Christians aren’t allowed to have fun.”
Jesus told us Himself that, “the thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10.”
Abundant life? I think we are sometimes guilty of perpetuating the myth by focusing on things that are less related to a joyful life. For example, have you ever attended a church service where the mood is so serious that you feel kind of robbed of joy? I’m not the most expressive person, but I think the abundant life should be on display, don’t you?
In the passage above, Paul gives us some guidance on what our lives should look like from the outside.
First, it is Christian love that creates the harmony that binds us together as believers, In fact Jesus also said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another “(John 13:35).
Second, we should experience the peace of Christ in our hearts, not being turned upside down constantly by the circumstances of life.
You keep him in perfect peace
Isaiah 26:3
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Also, we should be thankful and that is linked to the verse above. As we keep our minds fixed on Christ, we will be grateful.
Finally, Paul tells us here to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” and when we are focused on the Word of God daily, our lives will look different. We are to teach and advise others in the faith and we are to be engaged in each other’s lives – “singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Yes, Paul did earlier to walk away from things that are harmful in our lives, but the void is to be filled with a life that practices the pattern of growth and thankfulness