Gratitude “in everything” emphasizes again that we walk “by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Such positive faith never arises by accident. Faith must be renewed constantly, nurtured by the inspired Word,19 encouraged by Christian fellowship,20 and lifted by noble examples.21 In all our activities, our focus remains clear: “For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5). That is why the Word of Christ fills our songs, our teaching and our preaching.
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 (Colossians 3:16).22 M
Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching (1 Timothy 4:13). M
… preach the word;23 be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching (2 Timothy 4:2). M
When Paul left Asia, the greatest blessing he could leave with his beloved Ephesians was this:
And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up… (Acts 20:32).
Like the first Christians, therefore, we devote ourselves to “the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). We come together often to “edify” each other – to build up faith, hope and love in each other.24 True encouragement depends on understanding and believing God’s word. Thus everything we do aims to uplift the spirit and instruct the mind.
…I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also (1 Corinthians 14:15).
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up (1 Corinthians 14:26).
19. Word: Acts 20:32; 1 Timothy 4:6; 1 Peter 2:2 cf. 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17; Romans 10:17
20. Research Subject – Need for encouraging fellowship: Acts 28:15; 1 Corinthians 16:17-18; 2 Corinthians 2:12-13; 7:5-7,13-16; 1 Thessalonians 2:20; 3:1-10; 5:11-14; Philemon 1:7 cf. Proverbs 17:17; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; Matthew 18:19-20; 26:38; Mark 6:7; Acts 13:2-4; 15:22,32,39-41; 1 Samuel 23:16; Nehemiah 2:18
21. Research Subject – Noble examples: 1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1; 2 Corinthians 8:1-8; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7; 2 Thessalonians 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:12; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:10-14; Titus 2:7; Hebrews 13:7; James 5:10-11; 1 Peter 2:21; 5:3
22. Ephesians 5:19 shows that in songs our hearts make sweet music to God, but that the words we sing are also an important way in which we “speak to one another.”
23. In the context, this is the Word from “all Scripture,” 2 Timothy 3:15-17 cf. 2 Timothy 2:15