Lavish Language: The Importance Of Studying The Scriptures

How much time do you devote to studying and meditating on the Scriptures?  Are you overwhelmed by how much there is to learn within the pages of God’s Word?

The Potential Of Language

Today I’d like to share excerpts from Colossians 1:21-28.

”And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith … I [Paul] rejoice in my sufferings for your sake … I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” 

Language has such rich potential. Used well, it paints a clear picture. It fills our hearts with joy. And it challenges us. It can do all that in very few words.

This is one of the things that draws me to God’s Word—and one that keeps me away. Some days I wonder how I can even begin to scratch the surface of the riches contained within the pages of the Bible.

And yet, on other days, I realize how truly exciting this is. I will never exhaust the knowledge and wisdom to be found there. It will always be relevant. Even familiar passages teem with treasure I have barely begun to discover.

The Christian Journey

What words stood out to me from today’s passage? Alienated. Hostile. Reconciled. Holy. Blameless. Above reproach. Stewardship. Fully known. Mystery. Revealed. Glory. Hope. Mature. And, of course, Christ.

These eight verses give us an overview of who we were before coming to saving faith, what Christ has done, and what our response should be. And the list of words I shared takes us on that journey.

We were alienated and hostile toward God. Those are strong words but an important reminder that we could never make things right—nor would we even want to—if He hadn’t intervened.

Christ’s death on the cross and His resurrection made it possible for us to be reconciled to God, to stand before Him holy, blameless, and above reproach. This is how God the Father sees us after we come to faith in Jesus.

This passage challenges us to “continue in the faith.” What this means could lead to a lengthy discussion among theologians, but for today, I simply want to point out that we can’t ask Jesus to forgive our sins, thank Him for dying in our place, and then go about business as usual.

When a person becomes a Christian, it changes the course of their entire life. It effects every relationship, every decision, everything.

The apostle referred to stewardship. We, too, are given a stewardship. We are to make the gospel known wherever we are. Paul refers to making the word of God fully known. How amazing is that!

We Must Diligently Study The Scriptures

We can’t begin to make God’s Word known unless we study it and get to know what it says and what it means. And to make Him fully known … that is not going to happen unless we diligently study and meditate on what the Scriptures teach.

I spoke earlier about how overwhelming it can be to think about just how much there is to learn within the pages of God’s Word, but as we come to the end of today’s passage, we come to see what Paul zeroes in on, “the mystery hidden for ages and generations.” This is the truth, when grasped, that is the springboard to knowing God and His Word.

“The riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

As Christians, we give mental, even verbal, assent to this truth. And yet how much time do we devote to meditating on it? It’s more than a theological doctrine. It’s more than an obscure truth. It’s more than a nice passage to frame and hang on our wall.

It. Is. Reality.

Jesus Christ dwells within all genuine believers. If we take a few moments to really consider this reality, we realize why the words riches, glory, and mystery apply. This reality truly is “the hope of glory.”

The apostle goes on to talk about bringing believers to maturity. Just as we can’t remain children, we must move past spiritually infancy. Plus, it must be our heartfelt desire to help others do the same.

Would you like some prayer support? Contact us– we’d love to pray for you!