Sunday Scripture

 

For the next couple of Sundays, I've decided to take a break from the Psalms study to focus on Thanksgiving.  I'll be sharing some insights from a Thanksgiving/fall study with Good Morning Girls that I did back in fall of 2013.  Sadly, it seems that this little but oh-so-meaningful 2-week study -- Focusing our Hearts on Gratitude -- is no longer available.  If anyone is interested in the Scripture verses to do your own little study, just let me know and I can send you the references.  

The verses I chose for today are from Day 3 of the study.  We were to read Colossians 3:12-17, and the verses to SOAP were 15-17.  ( Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or praise for what it means to you.  And if you've never tried this simple method, I hope that you will give it a try and see if you find it as helpful as I do.)

So without further ado, here is my very simple study of Colossians 3:15-17:

S= "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 
"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.
"And whatever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him."  (Colossians 3:15-17)

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O= Paul wrote this letter (while imprisoned in Rome) to the Christians in the church at Colosse.  It was written "to the saints and faithful brethren' at Colosse, but clearly applies to all Christian believers.  

In these verses I see some repetitions (and it's always good to pay attention to those): "be ye thankful" in verse 15; and "giving thanks to God and the Father" in verse 17.

The commands seem to apply not only to individual believers but to the body of Christ as a whole.  We are to: 

🍁 Let the peace of God rule in our hearts (v.15)
🍁 Realize we are called to this peace as a church as well as individuals (v.15)
🍁 Be thankful (v.15)
🍁 Let God's Word dwell in us richly (v.16)
🍁 Teach and admonish other believers and expect them to do the same for us (v.16)
🍁 Sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord (v.16)
🍁 Whatever we do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to the Father by Him.

A= I need to let God's peace rule in my heart.  (It seems to me that if individual believers have His peace ruling in their hearts, there will more likely be peace in the church.) 

Sometimes it is all too easy to let something else, like worry, fear, anxiety, or some other emotion rule in our hearts.  But we need to let God's peace rule there.  In addition, I am to be thankful.  And I am very thankful for God's peace!

I need to let God's Word dwell in me richly. To me this means not only memorizing God's Word, but allowing it to become an integral part of my life by applying it and making it real in my everyday life.  Letting God's Word settle in and be at home in every facet of my life.

I also should be teaching and admonishing other believers and to be singing with grace in my heart to the Lord.  

It's interesting that I am to let God's peace rule in my heart and I am to let His word dwell in me richly.  These are both things I need to allow.  

And whatever I do, whether it's word (something I say) or deed (something I do), it's to be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as a thank-offering to Him.  It's an important question to ask ourselves about a proposed course of action: Can I do this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? 

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P= "Lord, I thank You this morning for the clear instruction from Your Word.  I pray that You will help me to daily apply all that I have learned.  

"Help me to allow Your peace to rule in my heart.  Help me to remember that I'm called to this.  I'm not to let anxiety, fear, worry, anger, frustration, or any other emotion rule in my heart -- only Your peace.  This seems like a tall assignment; yet, if I will only allow You to do the work in  my life, it is perfectly possible.

"Help me, too, to allow Your Word to dwell in me richly, to saturate my soul with it, so that when I am squeezed, it's Your Word that drips out.  Help me to daily memorize and meditate on Your Word, and to make it an integral part of my life.

And help me, Lord, to never forget that every bit of life is to be lived for Your glory, as a testimony to others and as a thank-offering to You for all You have done for me.

"I thank and praise You for how You will work, and for how you are working, in these areas!  I pray in Jesus' name, Amen."

And that's our very, very simple study for today.  I hope that someone has found it a blessing.