You read Scripture. You hear it. You even agree with it.
But then a situation hits… and something else comes out.
Old reactions. Old thinking. Old patterns.
So you have to ask yourself,
If the word is in you… why isn’t it showing up?
Let’s see what the Scripture actually says.
Colossians 3:16 (KJV)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Let Means You Have A Choice
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you”
That word “let” matters.
It means this doesn’t happen automatically.
You’re not forced into it.
You allow it.
That means the word can be present… without being welcomed.
Heard… without being received.
So the real question is, are you actually letting it in?
Dwell Means It Stays
“Dwell in you”
Not visit.
Not pass through.
Dwell.
This is about staying.
Living inside you.
Becoming familiar. Settled. At home.
If something dwells somewhere, it shapes that space.
So if the word truly dwells in you, it will shape how you think, speak, and respond.
Do you see the difference between hearing something… and letting it stay?
Richly Means Fully, Not Barely
“Dwell in you richly”
Not lightly. Not occasionally.
Richly means abundance.
Overflow. Depth. Substance.
This isn’t about having a few verses in your memory.
It’s about the word filling your inner life.
So when pressure comes, you’re not empty.
You have something to draw from.
That’s not what most people expect, is it?
In All Wisdom It Starts Inside Then Flows Out
“In all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another”
When the word dwells in you, it doesn’t stay hidden.
It shows up in how you speak to others.
Teaching means sharing truth.
Admonishing means correcting or warning.
But notice where it comes from.
Not your opinion.
The word that’s already in you.
So if it’s not dwelling in you, it won’t flow out of you.
Worship Flows From A Filled Heart
“In psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts”
This isn’t just about music.
It’s about what fills your heart.
When the word is inside you, worship becomes natural.
Not forced. Not empty.
It comes from something real.
Because your heart has been shaped by what’s dwelling in it.
Context Changes How You Read This
Look at the verses around it.
Colossians 3 talks about putting off the old man and putting on the new.
Old attitudes. Old habits. Old ways of thinking.
Then putting on things like mercy, kindness, humility.
So verse 16 sits right in the middle of that change.
The word dwelling in you is what makes that transformation possible.
Without it, you’re trying to change behavior without changing the source.
Scripture Confirms This Pattern
John 15:7 (KJV)
“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you…”
Abide means remain. Stay.
Same idea as dwell.
Then this.
Psalm 119:11 (KJV)
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart…”
Not just heard. Hidden inside.
And this.
2 Timothy 3:16–17 (KJV)
“All scripture… is profitable… that the man of God may be perfect…”
God’s word shapes and equips you from within.
Why It Feels Like It’s Not Working
You’ve heard the word.
You’ve read it.
But it hasn’t stayed.
It hasn’t settled deep enough to shape your reactions.
So when pressure comes, something else takes over.
Whatever is dwelling in you the most… is what comes out.
Is that what’s been happening?
Do you feel like the word is around you… but not really in you?
What This Looks Like In Real Life
You’re in a moment where your instinct is to react.
Frustration. Fear. Anger.
But instead of moving straight from instinct, you pause.
You bring back what God has said.
You let it sit there.
You let it shape your response.
That’s what it looks like for the word to dwell in you.
Not just something you know.
Something you live from.
What would it look like to actually let the word stay long enough to change how you respond?
Something Is Always Dwelling In You
Your mind isn’t empty.
Something is always filling it.
Thoughts. Influences. Patterns.
The question isn’t whether something dwells in you.
It’s what.
God’s word is meant to fill that space.
Richly.
So here’s the question that stays with you:
Is the word of Christ truly dwelling in you… or just visiting when it’s convenient?
Call to Action: The Question That Demands an AnswerIn Acts 2:37 Peter and the Apostles were asked the question – What Shall We do? And in Acts 2:38 Peter answered, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Do you understand this? After hearing the gospel and believing, they asked what should would do. The answer hasn’t changed friend, Peter clearly gave the answer. The question for you today is, Have you receieved the Holy Spirit Since you believed? If you’re ready to take that step, or you want to learn more about what it means to be born again of water and Spirit, visit: Come, and let the Spirit make you new. |
