sing away

Col. 3:16 (NLT)
Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

The words of Christ are the Bible, not just the words recorded in the Gospels. The use of these words begins with knowing them. They are to ‘live in our hearts.’ Again, it is our choices that come from our will, that reflect our heart. If the words of Jesus take up residence as a filter for our decisions, wisdom is the result. We can then use the guidance we gain from knowing God’s Word in teaching and counseling others. This means there is nothing new that you could learn that is not already addressed generally in the Bible.

There is new specific information that we might discover, but it is to be weighed with the general wisdom of the Bible. What the Bible has to say about our managing life on earth as stewards of God, for example, has much to say about the issues of our time from cloning to the environment, harvesting embryos to euthanasia. This is why the thought of a Christian purposely not using the filter of the Bible in decision-making would ludicrous. Peter said it well.

“Lord to whom would we go? You alone have the words that give eternal life.” (John 6:68)

Then Paul says fill your life with gratitude measured by the songs you sing. Interesting instruction. All kinds of songs. Celebration. Praise. What is most interesting is that the literal connotation of this instruction is to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to teach and counsel each other. The King James Version of the Bible keeps this context.

“….teaching and admonishing each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs…” (KJV)

Some of the most influential teaching of the Bible is delivered through song. From yesterday’s “Amazing Grace” to today’s “Better is One Day,” to tomorrow’s new songs our children will write, God is glorified. Also, singing is one of the best ways to memorize the Bible, as we have always known, and as projects like Bible Song Sunday School are rediscovering. With a mind filled with music, and music filled with the Word of Jesus, there isn’t much room for the thought that leads to sinful action.