Verse of the Day 11/12

Verse of the Day 11/12

Colossians 3:16-17 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  New Living Translation (NLT)

I had  planned on sharing another verse that went along with yesterday's about being ambassadors for Christ.  However, the last part of  my devotional reading this morning began with these verses in the NLT which says we are to live "as a representative of the Lord Jesus", an ambassador you might say.  Being a representative or ambassador is not a part time business.  It is full time, every day. 

There will be other things that take up time and occupy space in our lives,  but we are to let, to allow the message of Christ fill our lives, to flow through us and show through in those other areas of our lives, as the Amplified Bible below states as "the controlling factor in our hearts".  John MacArthur writes, "

"The Holy Spirit fills the life controlled by his word. This emphasizes that the filling of the Spirit is not some ecstatic or emotional experience, but a steady controlling of the life by obedience to the truth of God's word."

We as Christians are Christ's ambassadors, His representatives  to the world that we live in, in our "circles".   His word living in us is to be that "steady controlling influence" , "permeating every aspect of your being".  Amplified Bible

Sobering words.  How do we measure up?  The Amplified Bible reminds us that it is our calling.    "¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God."   Amplified Bible

--   In Christ,  Mike    Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com  Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins,  in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV    

Colossians 3:15-17Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ [the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him] be the controlling factor in your hearts [deciding and settling questions that arise]. To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body [of believers]. And be thankful [to God always]. ¹⁶ Let the [spoken] word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ Whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus [and in dependence on Him], giving thanks to God the Father through Him.