Well I'm back from vacation and ready to post again. A lot of the passages this week may look like "retreads," and that's because they are. But we are going to look at them from a different angle and draw some new insight regarding the spiritual disciplines. But first, I want to remind you that the disciplines are a means, not an end. That is, choosing to engage in one or more of the disciplines doesn't automatically make me some sort of "super Christian." They do give me an avenue, however, through which I can engage God constructively. This week we will think about those disciplines which are focused inward. They include meditation, prayer, fasting and study. As we consider them my prayer is that you are challenged to take them up and use them in order to grow deeper with God.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people." (Jeremiah 31:33)
When the laws of God are "in our mind" and "written on our heart" they become part of who we are. They are always near to us and, since that is so, always available to help us know what God would have us do. The people of God had forgotten (or perhaps ignored) God's law and thus, in a sense, had forgotten God. If we would not be guilty of the same, it is important to hold fast to His word in our minds; to write them on our hearts, as it were. So if you were to do that, if you were to have God's word in your mind or on your heart, what steps might you take to accomplish that? That is not a rhetorical question, by the way. What would you do if you wanted to hold fast to the Word of God, and thus hold fast to God? I'll develop this theme as we proceed throughout the week ahead, and hope you join me in doing so.
I have found that the only way to truly have God's Word in my mind and on my heart, is to read it each and every day (multiple times a day is even better!!). Even if it's something quick like a verse that is on my refrigerator door or a one-paragraph devotional that I get via e-mail, I receive a tremendous blessing and renewal of my spirit when I read His Word.
Building on Trish's insight, I would encourage you to consider memorizing scripture as well. But I realize that many of us have trouble with memorization. But Trish's ideas point the way for those of us who have difficulty remembering scripture: immerse your surroundings! If there are scriptures that you have found helpful but you can't seem to remember them, print them on slips of paper and put them where you'll see them (the refrigerator door would work all too well for me, unfortunately). Subscribe to e-mail devotionals or make it a habit to visit on-line ones. You could start with this blog, for instance! If you can't commit scripture to memory, then make scripture so ubiquitous that you run into it at every turn. In that way you can have it in your mind and your heart.
The Father has taught us through His redemptive acts throughout the Old Testament. Psalm 119:97-104 lists ways in which He has taught us – through the Law, Commandments, Testimonies, Precepts, and Word. Psalm 19:7-9, gives a similar list – Law, Testimonies, Statutes, Commandments, Fear, and Judgments. Through these graces, with examples throughout the Old Testament history and prophecy, we are given a strong foundation of Truth about our Father.
The Son has taught us by His life and teachings during His Incarnation. He was full of Grace (multiple examples of His compassionate healing ministry) and Truth (in depth sermons about Kingdom Truths, and many parables describing the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven.)
The Spirit teaches us as He dwells within us. As He lives within our hearts and minds, He not only brings to remembrance all the Truth about the Father and the Son, but, best of all, He enables us to be obedient to God’s will.
Fine teachers all, and each has a role to play in helping us know the Truth which sets us free. That freedom, as Dr. Vic points out, is the freedom to obey. We who were bound by sin are set free from it and empowered through God's grace to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. Knowing the Truth is the first "step" in that walk.
The parable of the importune (persistent) widow was Jesus' way of reminding His listeners that they had to be both consistent and persistent in pursuing God. It is not enough to seek God once or twice, decide no one's home, and walk away. We are called to continually seek God, to continually walk according to His will, to continually bring our requests to Him, to continually find ourselves in His word. It is the "continually" that is critical. It is the persistence, the unwillingness to give up, that is the key to having a close relationship with God. It is true that God meets us where we are and that God will close the gap if we turn to Him, but sometimes we need to demonstrate our faith by coming to Him repeatedly as we await His response. Jesus wondered if He would find faith on earth when He returned, and I think He had in mind a consistent faith, a persistent faith, which seeks after God even when God seems silent or is not yet ready to reveal His plans to us. That is the faith you and I are striving after and we can use the spiritual disciplines to develop it.
"And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:6-8)
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
There's that word "continue" again. Timothy had a good foundation with the help of his mother and grandmother. But it was his job to maintain that foundation; to continue in what he had become convinced of. If we are to be able to say that the laws of God are in our minds and hearts we too must continue in what we have become convinced of. That works out to the "same old, same old." If you've heard this once, you've heard it 1,000 times: stay in God's Word! Read it every day. Meditate on it at every turn. We do those things because meditating on God's word leads to obedience, which in turn produces delight. What are you meditating on today?
"How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103)
The word of God is sweeter than honey when those who love Him read it consistently. It is sweet because it produces both gratitude and joy in those who focus on it. As we think on the things of God we are led to thankful obedience and the thrill that comes from walking in His will and presence. Have you taken the opportunity to walk that path with the Lord today?
Well I'm back from vacation and ready to post again. A lot of the passages this week may look like "retreads," and that's because they are. But we are going to look at them from a different angle and draw some new insight regarding the spiritual disciplines. But first, I want to remind you that the disciplines are a means, not an end. That is, choosing to engage in one or more of the disciplines doesn't automatically make me some sort of "super Christian." They do give me an avenue, however, through which I can engage God constructively. This week we will think about those disciplines which are focused inward. They include meditation, prayer, fasting and study. As we consider them my prayer is that you are challenged to take them up and use them in order to grow deeper with God.
ReplyDelete“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
ReplyDeleteafter that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people."
(Jeremiah 31:33)
When the laws of God are "in our mind" and "written on our heart" they become part of who we are. They are always near to us and, since that is so, always available to help us know what God would have us do. The people of God had forgotten (or perhaps ignored) God's law and thus, in a sense, had forgotten God. If we would not be guilty of the same, it is important to hold fast to His word in our minds; to write them on our hearts, as it were. So if you were to do that, if you were to have God's word in your mind or on your heart, what steps might you take to accomplish that? That is not a rhetorical question, by the way. What would you do if you wanted to hold fast to the Word of God, and thus hold fast to God? I'll develop this theme as we proceed throughout the week ahead, and hope you join me in doing so.
I have found that the only way to truly have God's Word in my mind and on my heart, is to read it each and every day (multiple times a day is even better!!). Even if it's something quick like a verse that is on my refrigerator door or a one-paragraph devotional that I get via e-mail, I receive a tremendous blessing and renewal of my spirit when I read His Word.
DeleteBuilding on Trish's insight, I would encourage you to consider memorizing scripture as well. But I realize that many of us have trouble with memorization. But Trish's ideas point the way for those of us who have difficulty remembering scripture: immerse your surroundings! If there are scriptures that you have found helpful but you can't seem to remember them, print them on slips of paper and put them where you'll see them (the refrigerator door would work all too well for me, unfortunately). Subscribe to e-mail devotionals or make it a habit to visit on-line ones. You could start with this blog, for instance! If you can't commit scripture to memory, then make scripture so ubiquitous that you run into it at every turn. In that way you can have it in your mind and your heart.
DeleteThe Father has taught us through His redemptive acts throughout the Old Testament.
ReplyDeletePsalm 119:97-104 lists ways in which He has taught us – through the Law, Commandments, Testimonies, Precepts, and Word.
Psalm 19:7-9, gives a similar list – Law, Testimonies, Statutes, Commandments, Fear, and Judgments.
Through these graces, with examples throughout the Old Testament history and prophecy, we are given a strong foundation of Truth about our Father.
The Son has taught us by His life and teachings during His Incarnation. He was full of Grace (multiple examples of His compassionate healing ministry) and Truth (in depth sermons about Kingdom Truths, and many parables describing the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven.)
The Spirit teaches us as He dwells within us. As He lives within our hearts and minds, He not only brings to remembrance all the Truth about the Father and the Son, but, best of all, He enables us to be obedient to God’s will.
Fine teachers all, and each has a role to play in helping us know the Truth which sets us free. That freedom, as Dr. Vic points out, is the freedom to obey. We who were bound by sin are set free from it and empowered through God's grace to walk in a manner worthy of our calling. Knowing the Truth is the first "step" in that walk.
DeleteThe parable of the importune (persistent) widow was Jesus' way of reminding His listeners that they had to be both consistent and persistent in pursuing God. It is not enough to seek God once or twice, decide no one's home, and walk away. We are called to continually seek God, to continually walk according to His will, to continually bring our requests to Him, to continually find ourselves in His word. It is the "continually" that is critical. It is the persistence, the unwillingness to give up, that is the key to having a close relationship with God. It is true that God meets us where we are and that God will close the gap if we turn to Him, but sometimes we need to demonstrate our faith by coming to Him repeatedly as we await His response. Jesus wondered if He would find faith on earth when He returned, and I think He had in mind a consistent faith, a persistent faith, which seeks after God even when God seems silent or is not yet ready to reveal His plans to us. That is the faith you and I are striving after and we can use the spiritual disciplines to develop it.
ReplyDelete"And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:6-8)
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
ReplyDeleteThere's that word "continue" again. Timothy had a good foundation with the help of his mother and grandmother. But it was his job to maintain that foundation; to continue in what he had become convinced of. If we are to be able to say that the laws of God are in our minds and hearts we too must continue in what we have become convinced of. That works out to the "same old, same old." If you've heard this once, you've heard it 1,000 times: stay in God's Word! Read it every day. Meditate on it at every turn. We do those things because meditating on God's word leads to obedience, which in turn produces delight. What are you meditating on today?
"How sweet are your words to my taste,
ReplyDeletesweeter than honey to my mouth!"
(Psalm 119:103)
The word of God is sweeter than honey when those who love Him read it consistently. It is sweet because it produces both gratitude and joy in those who focus on it. As we think on the things of God we are led to thankful obedience and the thrill that comes from walking in His will and presence. Have you taken the opportunity to walk that path with the Lord today?
Good Sabbath! May God bless our worship as we gather in HIs name this day, partaking of His words which are sweeter than honey.
ReplyDelete