One of the characteristics of the Spirit-filled life as described in Ephesians 5:18 is found in the parallel verse of Colossians 3:16, where the same evidences of being filled with the Spirit are produced by the word of Christ dwelling richly among us.

The Spirit-filled life (and church) will be a life or church where the word of Christ richly dwells. The two are inseparable. So to encourage our growth in the word of Christ, here are some thoughts for application:

1. Read God's word daily and devotionally. Let's meditate, memorize, and apply God's good word to our lives each day.

2. Ask God where His word intersects with our lives - and align our lives to correspond to His word (in other words, obey God's word!)

3. Meditate on the return of Christ. Living in the daily realization that He could return very soon - even today! - has a purifying effect on our lives (1 John 3:1-3)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly.