...solemn endeavor of the soul to bring home to itself divine things; and so to resolve, ponder, and digest them, as to work their transforming power into every element and faculty of its being...It is the digestive process, by which spiritual food nourishes the soul and promotes its growth in holiness.We are blessed to have much great teaching at our church. The danger is that we become hearers and not doers. The potential disaster is that we might hear the word, be responsible before God for it, and not have it affect our will, thinking, desires, and behavior. You will not grow in the faith if you do not think about and apply God's Word. The Spirit of God works through the Word of God rightly understood and meditated on.
Lack of meditation is the primary reason that so many professing Christians, in spite of exposure to the most excellent teaching, still remain ignorant, unstable, and unfruitful; "ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." Instruction flows in upon them from all sides; but their hearts and minds are like sieves, out of which everything runs as fast as it is poured in. The impressions which truth makes on their minds, are as temporary as characters traced on the sands of the sea-shore, which the next wave erases forever. But meditation imprints truth deeply on the conscience, and engraves it on the tablets of "the inner man," "as with the point of a diamond laser beam." It thus becomes incorporated into the soul; and forms, as it were, a part of it; and it is ever present, to regulate the heart's affections and to control and guide all of its movements.
Take some time to meditate on God's Word. If you don't know how, check out this resource from Don Whitney to help you get some ideas.
Great post!
ReplyDeleteI often find a disconnect in my own life between orthodoxy and orthopraxy, between proper knowledge and understanding of theology and the practice of that theology in my daily life. One could argue that it is quite a simple task to understand conceptually the tenants and teachings of the Bible. Yet the task of getting it into our bloodstream, allowing to actually change our heart and, from that, the overflow of our heart by way of our actions, words, and deeds can only be done first by the power of the Holy Spirit and also by deep and constant reflection upon the very Words of God, that is, the Bible. It is the synergistic work of sanctification between God and Man as we study and meditate upon his Word, lead by the Spirit.