Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Think about where this verse is found in the section of Scripture in Colossians. Because this encouragement was given to a group of people that were living in a culture and society that was filled with what is called syncretism. This is an idea that so many different people had different ideas about what it meant to follow God. There was this synonymous sense that we're all headed in the same direction, going in the same way, toward the same thing.
Maybe we believe different things or different ideas about our pursuit of God, but we're all headed in the same general direction.
Paul's Main Message: Jesus and Only Jesus
If you read the book of Colossians starting in chapter one, the writer Paul does an incredible job of focusing in on one main idea throughout: this whole thing is about Jesus and only Jesus.
One of the most amazing passages in Scripture is found in chapter one, starting in verse 15. It talks about how "Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." This beautiful poetic description of Jesus—it's so powerful to read now. If I put myself in the shoes of those who were reading it then, it was this deep encouragement in the midst of all of the conversation about who God is, what it means to know Him, and the right way to righteousness. Paul was saying: "Let no one be confused and let it be known that it's Jesus. Only Jesus. He is the way."
Three Progressive Chapters
In chapter one, we see this encouragement to remember Christ. In Colossians chapter two, Paul talks about how we need to root ourselves in this truth—rooted in being built up in Him, established in our faith. Amidst all the conversation and culture, don't be swayed. Stay rooted in Jesus.
Then we come to chapter three. Our Verse of the Day tells us that the people who are walking together in the way of faith have some resource they can give each other in the way of encouragement so that they never forget who Christ is and what it means to know Him.
Christ Dwelling Richly in Your Heart
We see in this verse that there is this knowledge of Christ that dwells in your heart richly. It's basically implying that there's so much Jesus stuff inside you that it just comes out without you even thinking about it. It talks about how amongst this community of faith, they would sing hymns and songs and spiritual encouragements over each other.
The reason they would do this wasn't just pep talk or motivational speaking. It was a reminder in the midst of confusion, in the midst of tribulation, in the midst of temptation, that our anchor is in Christ.
The Sponge Illustration
When Paul is encouraging these people, he's saying, "I want there to be so much of Christ in you that whenever you're squeezed, it just comes out."
I know it's an interesting imagery, but think about a sponge. A sponge that is dry and you fill it with water—maybe you're looking at that sponge sitting on the table. You can't even really tell what's in there. It's only when the sponge is squeezed that what's inside comes out. When that sponge is squeezing, the water just spills out on your hands. It's when it's pressed that what it's filled with comes out.
Fill Your Lives with Jesus
This is the encouragement. I don't know what you're going through in life today. I don't know what you're walking through, but the one opportunity we can control in the middle of this is to fill our lives with the good things of Jesus. Let it dwell in your heart richly.
As life comes and presents its challenges—when we're squeezed—I pray that the goodness of Christ comes out into the world.
