As we continue our three-week study of Colossians 3:15-17, we think about the message of
Christ.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with
all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in
your hearts. Colossians 3:16
What is the message of Christ?
Luke 4:42-44 says, “At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for
him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he
said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because
that is why I was sent.” 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”
Jesus Himself said He was sent to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God. His message
is that God loves the world (John 3:16) which includes you and me (Acts 16:31). Jesus has paid
our ransom that was demanded by the sin that captured us and kept us from His kingdom. The
ransom was paid through the gift and atonement of His own life (Romans 6:23).
This message is to dwell among us richly… freely flowing from everything we are and do as we
teach and admonish (warn, reprimand and train) our children. The message of Christ is to dwell
richly among us on our car radios, home music systems, and as we sing while we do the dishes.
The message is to fill our homes and cars through psalms (songs), hymns (praise or celebration
of God), and songs from the Spirit (which we may not fully understand (Romans 8:26). These
songs pour out from us because of our gratitude.
We can’t help it. When we think of what Jesus has done for us, the ransom that has been paid
on our behalf and how much we don’t deserve His gift, we will praise Him. We will sing of His
goodness and our gratefulness.
This is illustrated in the preschooler who is painting a picture and cannot help but sing about
how happy he is, how much he loves his mama or daddy or frogs or dinosaurs or rainbows.
Without the weight of awareness that others are watching or listening the world lays on our
shoulders, we will freely sing and praise and celebrate what God has done and how grateful we
are for who He is and what He does.
How do you let the message of Christ dwell richly in your home? Sing. Praise. Encourage your
children to express their gratitude creatively. Play music that speaks the message of Christ and
the kingdom of God.
What do you do to express the message of Christ in your home?