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From the “book
of faith” initiative, a Bible study by ELCA Presiding Bishop Mark
Hanson on Colossians 3:16-17
Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly;
teach & admonish one another in
all wisdom;
and with gratitude in your hearts
sing psalms, hymns, & spiritual songs to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed,
do everything in the name of the Lord
Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father
through him.
Someone
discussing the ELCA’s Book of Faith initiative
made a marvelous insight that became an invitation. She said, “let us become fluent in
the first language of our faith ~ the language of Scripture.”
In his words to
the Colossians, I hear Paul extending a similar invitation:
“Let the word of
Christ dwell in you richly.”
I am forever
thankful that I was raised in a family in which we dwelt richly in the word
of Christ. Long before I could read
the Bible, I heard the Word as it was read to me, as we sang & prayed the
Scriptures.
As excited as I
was when the car was packed to go on a trip, before leaving we would gather
in the living room reciting together the 121st Psalm. After supper, before going out to play or
do homework, we would sing the names of the New Testament books. Yes, the language of Scripture was becoming
the mother tongue of my Christian faith.
As I am with
people throughout this church for whom English is perhaps their 2nd,
3rd, maybe even 4th language, it is fascinating to
observe what happens when that person meets someone who speaks their mother
tongue. There is great joy, lively
& animated exchanges, expressions of gratitude, the sharing of memories
& hope.
Could that be
similar to what Paul is describing occurs when the word of Christ dwells
richly in us and we dwell richly in the word?
Paul’s invitation is profoundly personal ~ spoken to each of
us. Yet it is also communal ~ a
description of our life together as the Word of Christ dwells richly in
us. Together we will be singing
spiritual songs and expressing thanks to God, together we will be sharing our
joys & struggles as we will teach & admonish one another in all wisdom. And everything we do will be in the name of
the Lord Jesus.
Did you hear that
~ everything in word & deed done in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God the Father through him?
Oh, my, that means my parenting & preaching & response to
those in poverty, our marriage, our money management, our gathering in
worship around the means of grace, and our caring for God’s creation
will all be in the name of Jesus and in gratitude for God’s grace &
mercy in Christ Jesus.
It can sound like
a daunting command. But I hear it as a
description of what occurs when through the Holy Spirit we accept the
gracious invitation to let the Word of Christ dwell in us richly.
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“WE PLOW THE FIELDS”
[this
beautiful, copyright-free hymn makes a good prayer for harvest time]
We plow the fields & scatter the good seed on the
land,
but it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand.
He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain,
the breezes and the sunshine, and soft, refreshing rain.
He only is the Maker of all things near & far;
he paints the wayside flower, he lights the evening star.
The winds & waves obey him, by him the birds are fed;
much more, to us his children, he gives our daily bread.
We thank thee then, O Father, for
all things bright & good:
the seed-time & the harvest,
our life, our health, our food.
Accept the gifts we offer for all
thy love imparts,
and, what thou most desirest ~ our humble, thankful hearts.
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