Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Sept/70

Contributor - John Moerman

Title - Living The Love of Christ

Topic - Discipleship

"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and "N admonish one another in all wisdom, and as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God."

"The Word of Christ" is the word concerning the Christ, in all its fulness; thereby also including the Old Testament. the promises about the Christ. Let that Word of Christ, that message of Christ's redeeming love, "dwell in you richly". And, of course, not just individually, but equally so collectively. By the grace of the powerful and wonderful working of the Holy Spirit, causes this Word of Christ to dwell in you so richly that you prove yourself to be the very home of Christ's redeeming love, filling every nook and corner. Now, that is having the Word of Christ dwell in you fully or generously, is it not?

Moreover, this is the way you and I will be able to "teach and admonish one another in all wisdom". Teaching can be one of the most rewarding things in life. It is not the easiest It takes a lot of skill, experience, effort, and preparation. But just the same, it is worth it' It pays double in benefits and blessings.

When the Word of 'Christ dwells in us richly it is like receiving the necessary skill, experience, effort, and preparation to effectively teach it. Not every one can teach Christ's redeeming love: Not even one with seminary training! Degrees, no matter how many, do not automatically enable a person to teach the Word of Christ. The birth from above of Christ's redeeming love and the indwelling of the fulness of the Holy Spirit, does that.

Next, when you and I have become the house and the home of Christ's redeeming love, we shall not only be able to teach one another in all wisdom, but also admonish one another with great wisdom. It stands to reason that admonition must be given wisely. Admonition however well intended, can bring about the opposite result of what you and I were aiming for. I would like to define wisdom here as the ability to use one's Bible knowledge the right way. A person can say the right thing at the wrong place and time.

Then too, do you know that you and I can teach and admonish one another in all wisdom "as we sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs"? This is why the words of this text also seek to convey to our hearts! Compare it with Eph. 5 : 19, where we read...... addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs". And isn't that why our singing ought to be: instructive and admonitory?! Haven you never had it that the words of some psalm, hymn, or other song, spoke to you in a comforting or rebuking manner? I have. Plenty of times. And if the words of these psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, can speak to us that way they can speak to our fellow Christians too. In fact, there are accounts in abundance of how unrepentant sinners and slaves of satan received the Word of Christ, because by the grace of God the words of a song touched their heart and soul.

Here is one of these accounts: One night an alcoholic staggered home very late. As he approached the house he looked through the window and saw that his so often abused wife was ironing his and the childrens' clothes, and, singing! As he came closer he caught the words: "What a Friend we have in Jesus!" It flashed through his mind, if Jesus can make my wife sing in this situation, he can help me stop drinking. The Lord did give him victory over his enslavement and brought salvation to his soul - through a song of his born-again wife! ! Hallelujah' Amen!

Of course, psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, are intended to be sung to the praise and honor of our God. But this can only come when they first of all speak to us, in comfort, admonition, awe, or in still another way. Do you know how it came about that the hymn was written, "God moves in a Mysterious Way, His wonders to perform?" William Cowper suffered a nervous breakdown. He said to himself, "This is the end of my preparation for a lawyer career". He decided to end his life by drowning himself in the Thames Rives in London, England. He took a taxi and told the driver that he wanted to get off at the Thames River Bridge. Before they arrived a dense fog rolled in. The taxi driver lost his way and after an hour of driving gave up. When they got out they found, to their amazement, that they were one block from where they started! Cowper paid the driver and ran to his house. In amazement, awe and gratitude,, he wrote the hymn you and I love to sing.

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform-;

He plants His footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs,

And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;

The clouds ye so much dread

Are big with mercy, and shall break

In blessing on your head.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,

And scan His work in vain;

God is His own Interpreter,

And He will make it plain.

Yes, when the message of Christ's redeeming love dwells in us, richly, new horizons can be seen. And no matter what we say, sing, or do, wisely, we teach one another in an all around way. Considering all that, surely, there can be nothing else but this, "with thankfulness in our heart to God".

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