What is the living word on us?

... Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God...

What does this mean? I honestly do not know. Lately I've been trying to ponder what does it mean to have the Living Word Within us. In my 40 here with walk with Christ I have heard pastors and ministry leaders say you need the Living Word Within you.

Okay. We need the Living Word in us. But what does this mean? Is the Living Word Jesus himself that we need in us? Or is the Living Word memorizing Bible verses that we need in us? Or is it both? Or is it something totally different?

How did the first century Church understand the above verse in Colossians? What does it mean to have the Living Word Within us?

Would be interested insults from the forum.

Is the Living Word merely that which is found on the printed pages of our Bible. Or is the Living Word something far more dynamic such as Jesus himself?

My finite mind cannot comprehend what this means. But I sense intuitively that it goes far beyond merely the words on the printed page.

We are told that we need the word in us. What does this mean??? I once was told that it was merely to memorize Bible verses. I memorized hundreds of Bible verses only to find myself empty and religious.

What does this mean??? What does it mean to have the Living Word Within us??? Is it Jesus himself is the Living Word. Is it his Spirit speaking his words into our heart and mind which is spirit and truth? If this is so then this refreshes my soul.

But when I'm told that it is the written word that I need to get into my mind. I am left flat. I am left religious. What I am told it it is Sola scriptura. My heart is left dead.

What does it mean to have the living word dwelling richly within us??? What does it mean to have the word of Christ richly dwelling within us???

I have questions. Does anyone have the answer?

Please do not point me to systematic or commentaries. Please do not tell me it is merely the written word. There must be something more to The Living Word. What does it mean to have the Living Word Within us???

You are right brother I cannot define it. My heart longs for it. Funny since I started writing this post I've had a desire to listen more to my audio Bible them previously.

I'm thirsting for the pure milk of the word. But I think it's more than just a printed words on the page. Perhaps it is those words of Jesus himself that gives spirit and life. Perhaps it is more for Jesus himself who is the Word.

Cannot Define it. But I sure wanted. :-)

Blaine, l think it is the word living within us, (Jesus) that is to say, the same word that was received by the writers of scripture, meaning their hearing of the word of God speaking to them directly.

Jesus is the word, as He is the communication of the Godhead to man in a living instant manner and scripture is the record of the communicating of this word, this life giving speaking to other men, and both will be confirmation of each other but the direct word is absolutely necessary.

Some if not many only have the written word but that is not sufficient.

This is what the early Quakers insisted on seeing on the one side, the direct communication of God to be passed down through traditions, and the authority of the pope, and on the other. Protestants who said that the final speaking of God is scripture and is the only authority hence the insistence of academic study of scripture for teachers despite the apostles entire lack of schooling.

Sorry if that is jumbled as l am finding it a bit of a struggle to express it.

Just an additional point - the living word is that which gives life rather than the dead letter, l think.