The Gospel Lived • Colossians 3:1-17
By Don Hicks
“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2 CSB), is a challenging goal that the Apostle Paul gave the Colossians and to all of today’s American Christians. He had just explained why that high of a goal was reasonable: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things above where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1 CSB).
Paul taught in Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (KJV). This means if you have called in faith on the name of Jesus, you have been raised to be with Him and the Heavenly Father.
The great missionary hymn, Jesus Loves Me, was written to explain to the Chinese people why Jesus would want to be with us. “Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven’s gates to open wide! He will wash away my sin. Let His little child come in. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.”
Those early missionaries used a song to communicate God’s love to a people who had never known the God of the Bible.
Paul began to explain the importance of teaching through songs this way: “Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (Colossians 3:16 CSB).
Let me try to illustrate from my experiences how Christians can teach love through songs. Among some of my earliest memories, I have a clear picture of my mother rocking me in our house at the edge of the city park in Fairfield, Ill, and singing Jesus Loves Me. I also remember knowing, without a shadow of a doubt, that Jesus loved me.
Those memories are reinforced as I remember Mother rocking and singing to my younger sister, my brother 11 years younger than me, and our youngest brother, 16 years younger than me. I have seen that all four of us still remember and know for a certainty that Jesus loves us.
My understanding of the effectiveness of singing about God’s love and other important truths for Christian living has been further reinforced by watching my wife rock and sing Jesus Loves Me to our four children, all of which have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior and demonstrated their commitment to share the love of Christ Jesus with those around them.
This kind of love taught by song, word, and example will cause Jesus’ followers to trust Colossians 3:3-4: “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (CSB).
In this 21st century world, including our beloved America, we can sing with the 20th century hymn writers who wrote based on Matthew 14:22: “I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, singing to rise no more; But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry, from the water lifted me, now safe am I. Love lifted me! Love lifted me When nothing else could help, Love lifted me” (Love Lifted Me, 1912. Lyrics by James Rowe; melody by Howard E. Smith).
Paul wrote to Colossae, “Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature” Colossians 3:5 (CSB). Earthly nature includes:
— Sexual immorality.
— Impurity, lust, and evil desires.
— Greed.
— Anger.
— Wrath.
— Malice.
— Slander.
— Filthy language.
— Lying.
“Therefore, as God’s chosen ones holy and dearly loved, put on” (Colossians 3:12ff):
— Compassion.
— Kindness.
— Humility.
— Gentleness.
— Patience.
— Bearing with one another.
— “Forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are to also to forgive” (Colossians 3:13 CSB).
— “Above all, put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Colossians 3:14 CSB).
— Let the peace of Christ rule your heart.
— Be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you.
— In all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, spiritual songs.
“And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father though him” (Colossians 3:17 CSB).
Hicks is missions director for Jasper Association in Bay Springs. He may be contacted at donaldwhicks@gmail.com.
