Thursday, March 5, 2009

ABC's of the Word...D

Pam at Grey Like Snuffie is hosting this blessed activity f posting scripture following the alphabet. This week we are searching for "D" words. You can go here to see everyone's postings.


Though Col. 3: 16 is my chosen verse, and the word "DWELL" my chosen word, I can not just give you that verse alone. In order for Christ to DWELL in you requires holy living on our part. The rules to holy living are described in the verses preceding verse 16. This is such a familiar passage but read it again, slowly, mediating on what is and is not a part of holy living, and then focus on what it really is to have Christ DWELL in you!! Be blessed ladies.....

Colossians 3 (NIV)
1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your
life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming.
7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
12Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ DWELL in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


We are are teachers and modelers of Christ and holy living. This holy living that Christ requires of us can only happen if the scripture is alive and active in us. There is a lot required here for holy living. Maybe it would benefit us to put these rules of holy living into a list format-the "do's and don'ts", something to view on a daily basis to encourage us towards it. Whatever it takes for Christ to DWELL in us, we are to be willing.

I want Christ to DWELL in me, I want to love as He loves, to forgive as He forgives, to clothe myself as He clothe Himself when He ministered to others. I want to experience His peace, His unity, His holiness richly in my life. Don't you? What is the result of Christ DWELLING in us? Others are DRAWN to Him. A beautiful word picture isn't it?

Oh Lord, DWELL in each of us. Clothes us with your holiness so that we may serve others as You would serve them. May the DWELLING of Your presence in and though us DRAW others to You. Amen



His Maidservant~Pamela

11 comments:

pam said...

AMEN indeed..wonderful post Pamela. Hope all is going well. My Esther study for the week got canceled...I'm missing it.

Jill Beran said...

Good stuff Pamela!! I'm praying God would dwell in me right now in the midst of some circumstances I don't understand.

Yolanda said...

Pamela,

I so see this in you, you are the apple of His eye.

Love ya!

Libby said...

Speaking of dwell in us....my 6 year old asked her older sister to pray with her monday night to ask Jesus into her heart. It was so innocent and so adorable and so sweet and so heart warming. Children see Him so much clearer than we do.

Tealady said...

"Let the word of Christ DWELL in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."

Pamela, I absolutely love the scripture you've shared with us today. I have only recently begun to blog and this verse is my central theme.

ellen b. said...

Amen Pamela. I want to dwell with the Lord all the days of my life...

sailorcross said...

Beautiful, Pam--just beautiful!!

Everyone I have visited so far this morning has brought a particular incident right before my eyes, into my mind.

And guess what? Yours did also. I think God is telling me something, and I just discovered what it is!!

Thank you God for opening my heart so that my eyes could see and my ears could hear.

Beth

LisaShaw said...

Praise the Lord Pam. This was a blessing to me. I've missed you. I pray all is well with you and your family. Love you.

pam said...

RYC: We do live in Missouri, just south of KC. Our business is in the city but we live out a ways. My husband grew up in Missouri, I was born and bred a Kansan...We met at KU. Snapdragons are just so happy and these things thrived even in the driest weeks. I still had some green on them in December. They are the one annual that can seem to come back in the spring....especially these so protected on the south side of our home. Hope you have a grand weekend Pamela!

Laura said...

Amen, my sister!

Hope you are well. Miss you!

Hey, have you decided about SheSpeaks yet? I'm still undecided...really want to go, but, oh, stuff. You know.

Let me know. Would love to see you again.

Carol said...

Oh Pamela I love this verse. We were just sharing this verse with a friend the other night, he's not a believer, but asks us a lot of questions. He wanted to know why my husband couldn't watch this certain movie. So we shared this verse with him, and how having God dwell in us made us long to please the Lord, and how it hurt our hearts and souls to displease Him.

It opened up a huge dialog, and he came to my husband the next day with more questions. Prayerfully we hope that he comes one day with the question of how God can dwell in him as well.

Thank you for such a wonderful reminder.

Love,
Carol