Only by pride cometh contention – Proverbs 13:10

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.” – Colossians 3:16
The very first word here, “Let”, tells us that this is something we can do, and since this comes from the Scriptures it is something we should do. The benefits of doing this tells us this is something we need to do—“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.“(Matt. 4:4).The Word of God is food for our soul and fuel for our faith. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God“(Rom. 10:17).

In a challenge to his congregation James Smith wrote:“The word which Jesus preached, or the word which His servants wrote, the whole word of God, is the word of Jesus.

Believer, look at your Bible as containing the word of your best Friend, loving Saviour, and final Judge. Let it find a home in your memories, affections, and hearts. Let it keep house – ruling, feeding, and directing your souls.

Let it dwell in you plentifully, and know how to apply the different portions to different persons, and different cases. Let it dwell in you richly, that you may have that to plead in prayer which God will notice, approve, and accept; to form, guide, and preserve your judgments; to curb, bound, and regulate your desires; to raise, confirm, and direct your expectations : to silence, enlighten, and purify conscience : to enable you to resist and overcome Satan : that you may be able to reprove sin, and speak a word in season to the weary.

Let the word of Christ have the best room in your souls : let it be your daily meditation, food, and directory. LET THE WORD OF CHRIST DWELL IN YOU RICHLY IN ALL WISDOM.”

Still let Thy wisdom be my guide,
Nor take Thy light from me away;
Still with me let Thy grace abide,
That I from Thee may never stray :
Let Thy word richly in me dwell,
Inspiring me to do Thy will

“In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

If anything spoils Christmas cheer it is the hustle and bustle it has become. We have made it something it was never intended to be. We have made it all about man rather than the Messiah. Everyone, it seems, is in a panic state. We have made it a rat-race and then wonder why it isn’t “merry”. The fact is that this is but a reflection of the way most people live. Surely it is easy to see the need for the message of our text. Charles Spurgeon put it like this:

“It is always weakness to be fretting and worrying, questioning and mis-trusting. What can we do if we wear ourselves to skin and bone? Can we gain anything by fearing and fuming? Do we not unfit ourselves for action and unhinge our minds for wise decision? We are sinking by our struggles when we might float by faith.

Oh, for grace to be quiet! Why run from house to house to repeat the weary story which makes us more and more heart-sick as we tell it? Why even stay at home to cry out in agony because of wretched forebodings which may never be fulfilled? It would be well to keep a quiet tongue, but it would be far better if we had a quiet heart. Oh, to be still and know that Jehovah is God!

Oh, for grace to be confident in God! The holy One of Israel must defend and deliver His own. He cannot run back from His solemn declarations. We may make sure that every word of His will stand though the mountains should depart. He deserves to be confided in; and if we would display confidence and consequent quietness, we might be as happy as the spirits before the throne.

Come, my soul, return unto thy rest, and lean thy head upon the bosom of the LORD Jesus.”

“...I will do you no hurt.” – Jeremiah 25:6

At first glance this doesn’t seem to be true. However, if you keep it in context, consider all the Scriptures, and understand the word “hurt”, it cannot be denied. Our problem is that we generally associate hurt with harm. The fact is that what hurts us, in the sense of pain, can also help us. Since all God’s children suffer, how can it be said that He will not “hurt” us. Here’s the answer. The Hebrew word translated “hurt” means evil or bad–something we can never accuse God of being the author of. It doesn’t have reference to mere pain. James Smith explained the verse like this:

“How is it possible that a God of love, who is full of compassion, plenteous in mercy, ready to forgive, waiting to be gracious, should do His children hurt? It cannot be. His dealings may cause us pain, but nothing shall by any means harm us.

We ought rather to argue with Paul, “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” He sent His ancient people as captives to Babylon, but it was for their good; He allowed His children to be cast into the fiery furnace, into the lion’s den, to be driven out to wander in sheep-skins and goat-skins, but He did not allow them to be hurt; all was sanctified to them, and the curse was turned into a blessing.

If He scourge us with one hand, He will support us with the other, and at last we shall come up before His throne, out of great tribulation, having washed our robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Not one who has arrived safe in heaven will say that his God allowed him to be hurt, notwithstanding the trials endured by the way. Nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

Lord, I would my all resign,
Gladly lose my will in Thine,
Careless be of things below,
Thee alone content to know;
Simple, innocent, and free,
Seeking all my bliss in Thee”