Teach One Another

By Pete Sutton

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” (Colossians 3:16, NIV).

My college friend Ryan and I had little in common. I was an athlete; he was a musician. I was suburban; he was country. I was outgoing; he was reserved. He was also blind. He navigated campus with a cane, guided by a wall-sized relief map his mother crafted of cardboard, felt, and sandpaper. Ryan loved jokes and playful pranks. Of all the remarkable traits in Ryan, the one that I admired most was his joy. The joy of the Lord compelled Ryan to burst out in worship anytime and anywhere. Whether we were crossing a road, sitting in the cafeteria, or lounging by the lake, Ryan would spontaneously launch into a song—often well-known but sometimes original—loudly. He had a marvelous voice, perfect pitch, and was never content to sing alone. He invited everyone around to join him, and his joy was so irresistible that even the most tone-deaf friends sang along.

I think of Ryan when I read Colossians 3:15–17. Paul instructs the church to "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" and "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly." This indwelling should result in "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs" that teach and admonish one another with thankful hearts.

Three things stand out in this instruction:

We can't share what we don't possess. The peace and message of Christ must dwell within us if it is to affect those around us. The command is to surrender to the indwelling of Christ and his Word. This leads to a complete transformation of who we are and what we do. It's the continuation of Paul’s earlier instruction to take off the old self and be clothed with Christ-likeness. This is only possible because of the indwelling of Christ.

The peace and message of Christ are meant to be shared. Like my friend Ryan, if the peace and message of Christ dwell within us, we can’t just sing in the shower or quietly hum to ourselves. We must belt it out! This spontaneous exuberance is a defining mark of God’s family. Are you bubbling over with joy and gratitude? You must be a child of God!

Teaching is the implication, not the command. According to Paul, teaching and admonishing are a natural result of Christ's peace and message dwelling within us. Paul is commanding us to so fully embody Christ's words that our lives become a form of instruction for those around us.

Ryan's spontaneous singing was a testament to the joy dwelling within him. He wasn't trying to lecture us on music; he was simply overflowing with Jesus! Similarly, the joy and peace we have in Christ should be so abundant that it naturally spills out, drawing others in. This is not about being a perfect evangelist, but about living a life so transformed by Christ's presence that others can't help but join the song.

Reflection Questions

• Who in your life has been an example of overflowing joy, gratitude, and the peace of Christ?
• How might God be inviting you to experience and embody joy, gratitude, and peace?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, empty me of myself and fill me with your presence. May the peace of Christ dwell richly within me and transform me inside and out. May the joy of Jesus grow within me and burst out in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, instructing and inspiring others to love and follow Jesus. And may the Holy Spirit empower me in word and deed to be grateful for and generous with all that I’ve been given. In Jesus’ name, amen.