“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly … singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs … (Col 3:16)
We all know how much easier it is to remember songs than to remember someone’s phone number, or even Bible verses. How often have you been able to sing a line, a whole verse, or even an entire song at church without looking at the words?
Music is a wonderful gift from God. It stirs our emotions the way ordinary words often don’t, embeds itself into our memory, and provides corporate unity as we all sing with one voice. And because of these benefits (plus any others you can think of), singing is a big part of letting the word of Christ dwell in us richly.
What are some ways we can do this as a body? It’s easy enough to sing on our own – in the shower, in the car, during your quiet time. And we do it each week during our church service. Are there any other ways we can sing together though, that the word of Christ would dwell in us richly? Here are some ideas:
- Sing as a family – whether you have kids, a spouse, or are single, why not read the Bible, pray and sing each night? It can certainly be difficult with younger children, but it’s an excellent way for all of us, including them, to be filled with God’s word
- Gather as a small group to sing – get together with a group from church to pray and sing some songs in praise and thanksgiving to God. Sing your favourites and try some new songs.
We should cherish this gift of music. When the world mocks, when our minds accuse, we can cling to those blessed lyrics, “Even so, it is well with my soul.”