(I am currently leading an six-week online Bible study based on Lysa TerKeurst’s book Unglued. Each week, we are taking a closer look at a passage or series of scriptures. I’ll be sharing those here!)
Text: Colossians 3:7-9, 12-16
Key Verse: Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
- Let’s start by looking at the first part of the text:
- “In these you too once walked, when you were living among them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices . . . “
- What are your initial thoughts when reading this?
- My thoughts: I’m really struggling with anger right now. What is the definition of malice? Merriam-Webster defines it as “desire to cause pain, injury, or distress to another.” This passage tells us what not to do. I need help knowing what to do.
- “In these you too once walked, when you were living among them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices . . . “
- Now, look at part two of the text:
- “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
- What are your initial thoughts when reading this?
- My thoughts: I love this!! Especially the part about “letting the word of Christ dwell in you richly” because I know I cannot do any of the things listed here on my own. What is the difference between humility and meekness? M-W defines humility as “the quality or state of not thinking you are better than other people” and meek as “having or showing a quiet and gentle nature.” Ouch. A quiet nature? That is a tough one for me. What about admonishing? What does that mean? M-W: “to tell or urge (someone to do something).”
- “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
- Finally, a closer look at the key verse, this time from the Amplified Bible:
- “Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].”
- Take a look at the PDF attachment I sent with this email. Do your own research (closer look) of this verse or of the passages altogether. (I borrowed this from another study; so, disregard the heading.)
- What does Proverbs say about my response to others?
- Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
- Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
- There are so many more, but we will have to save it for another week!
- “Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].”
mariesmuse 