“God’s Word: The Christian’s weapon”
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. —Colossians 3:16
Read Colossians 3:1-17
In these verses, as Christians and followers of Christ, we are urged not to dwell on the things of this earth, but on those that are in heaven where Christ is seated. Paul concretely sums up what we actually must lay aside. In doing so, he uses the terms “put off” and “put on.” These terms suggest a change of clothing, and clothing says something about who we are. That is why Paul uses this image. We have to put off the filthy clothes of anger, wrath, malice, slander, cursing, and lying against one another – in short, the old man and his deeds (vv.8,9). Instead, we must put on the clothes of grace, that consist of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, long suffering, forgiveness, and above all, charity (vv.12-14).
But who is able to do all this in their own strength? No one can, but we have the comfort that the Stronger One has come to take away the power of the strongly armed one, the devil. And that is why Paul points us to the words of Christ found in Luke 11:22. In Him, all the qualities of a Christian are found in perfection. It may be difficult to take off our filthy clothes and to receive and put on the “gracious” ones. But Christ has given us a mighty weapon in this battle, and that weapon is His Word. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” What lives in your heart? What clothes are you wearing? Have you already taken off your old filthy clothes and put on new ones?
What is the Power of God’s Word?