Richly

"...the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly..." - Titus 3:5-6

Imagine that: poured out richly.

Not just lightly sprayed like mist from an ocean breeze. Not just sprinkled like droplets of rain. But poured out richly like a swimming pool dumped on your head.

That is how the Holy Spirit is given to us.

I Ask Myself

"...so we speak, not to please man, but to please God..." - 1 Thessalonians 2:5

When I speak, do I care about pleasing God more than I care about pleasing man?

Certain Hope

"...let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe..." - Hebrews 12:28

Heaven is our home. For this eternal salvation and life with Him, we should continually thank and praise God.

We have a certain hope. This future security should fill us with reverence and awe of the One who promises this for us.

Don't Forget

Don't forget the bigger picture.

Teach One Another

"teaching...one another..." - Colossians 3:16

Like instructing, teaching should not come from ignorance, but "in all wisdom." Wise teaching stems from letting "the word of Christ dwell in you richly" (Colossians 3:16).

The verse continues "singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." As the ESV Study Bible explains, these musical components are a means of teaching one another. Doctrinally-sound lyrics are a form of teaching God's truth. Could this then translate into other arts like biblically based literature and visual arts? There are many ways through which we can teach truth.

Deutschkirche

This morning I attended church in German. I might not be able to understand everything, but it is wonderful to participate in worshiping God in another language.

I understand just enough to know that we are praising the King of this world and that. I find such delight in having enough comprehension to be able to follow along with well-known passages from the gospels.

Like when I studied Spanish, learning German makes me think about the greatness of the God I serve. He overcomes language barriers and understands any tongue. Worshiping God is not reserved for any one language or people-group.

Ich glaube an Gott den Vater, den Allmächtigen, Schöpfer Himmels und der Erden.
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. - from the Apostles' Creed

Be Devoted to One Another

"Be devoted to one another..." - Romans 12:10 (NIV)

Being devoted to each other involves what the ESV translates as "lov[ing] one another with brotherly affection." It is faithful dedication. It is committed loyalty. It is sticking together through the colloquial "think and thin." It is loving despite hardships caused by a fellow brother.

The command to be devoted to one another comes in the midst of a passage full of descriptions of the Christian life. This is how we can please God. This is how we are to live.