Transformation - Day 17

"Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." - Colossians 3:16-17

We've been talking about the radical exclusive claims of Christ as well as his radically inclusive invitation to connect to him.  These are not in conflict.

Paul said the message of Christ is rich, full, complete.  There is no other message like it.  No one else has come to rescue us from sin.

Our job is not to decide who's in or out, who believes or doesn't believe.  Our task is simply to invite others into the rescue that we've freely received.

So let this message, this rescue dwell in you deeply.  It will change you.

Then Paul gives some practical ways to get this message into your marrow, deep into your soul.

Teach and counsel.

Sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.

Keep thanksgiving in the front of all you do.

Some beautiful images here.

First. You can't teach and counsel yourself.  You need community - faith community - Christ community.  You can't do it on your own.  You weren't meant to.  God did not create church (not the thing we've made it but the thing God created) as optional.  Who will you invite to counsel you?  Who will you counsel? (and why do we find it so hard to have spiritual conversations when they are so essential to our spiritual formation?)

Second.  Reflect on God's good gift of music.  There's singing in heaven and you are invited to sing along!  What's on your radio?  your ipod?  Is it music that brings you into the presence of God?  The portability and quality of worship music is a tremendous gift in this new century.  And music and poetry penetrate the soul. They create "super highways" carrying God's Word right to our hearts.  (Same with most art - 

Leonard Sweet rights a lot about this.) Be sure to use this gift.  Make worship a lifestyle.  Then the corporate worship we share on Sundays will come alive!

And finally don't forget to sprinkle everything with liberal doses of thanks.  I've noticed if I'm in a bad mood or just down, intentionally thanking God for the good in my life changes my attitude.  Have you tried it?  Thankful people are healthier people.  Paul said, whatever is pure, noble, lovely . . . think on such things."  King David, in the midst of his own depression would write, "and yet I will remember . . ." and begin to think about all the ways God had rescued and restored him in the past.

Remember all this flows from the Message, the Word - Jesus Christ.  Let him dwell in you richly.