Christian Meditation and Obedience to God: One Thing Leads to Another

"and on His Law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does he prospers."

-- Psalm 1:2b-3

Meditation has fallen upon hard times in the last century or so. In fact, in my experience, I have read very little about meditating upon Scripture in Christian literature. We talk quite a bit about the study and memorization of God's Word but often neglect the very important and useful Christian practice of meditating upon the Word.

When God gave Joshua the charge to lead the children of Israel after the death of Moses He told him to be strong, courageous and obedient to the Law. God then went on to tell Joshua the method by which he could be obedient to the Law, meditation upon His Word. Joshua 1:8 reads, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate upon it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." Sounds a lot like our passage in Psalms 1 today doesn't it? Successful living happens when we follow God's will for our life; when we follow after God's way of doing things; when we are obedient to God's Word.

I am not advocating a "health and wealth" gospel this morning! God is not teaching in these passages that we will all be millionaires if we follow the 10 Commandments. The word "prospers" in Psalm 1 means "to advance, proceed, prosper and be profitable." David is teaching that if we follow God's way of doing things, if we are obedient to Him, our life will progress in a good way in which we will find great blessing (happiness). There is no promise or formula presented in the Bible by which we attain material riches. Material riches are not the will of God for every man's life. God promises to care for our needs if we follow Him. However, God has not promised each man who follows Him a mansion, boat or mercedes.

Christian meditation can be practiced as follows:

1. Pray and ask God to teach His Word to you

2. Read a passage from God's Word...The Bible

3. Find a quiet place, consider the passage of Scripture you have read and think deeply about it

4. While considering God's Word ask the Him to reveal its meaning and application to your life

Christian meditation is never an emptying of our mind! Christian meditation is the practice of putting Scripture into our mind. When we practice Christian meditation the Word of God becomes a natural part of our day and its application a routine part of our existence. Time with God in Christian meditation allows opportunity for the Holy Spirit to change us and make us more like Christ. Ask God to help you learn and practice this important Christian discipline and enjoy the blessings and prosperity which are sure to follow!

James

The Path to Happiness

"But his delight is in the Law of the Lord" -- Psalm 1:2a

We are beginning this week with the first phrase of verse 2 in Psalm 1. This verse begins the process by which the Psalmist, in this case King David, will teach us how we can have a blessed life. The word here translated "blessed" carries with it the idea of being happy. We all hunger for happiness! So how can we live a life of blessing that is filled with occasions of happiness?

To "delight" in something means to take pleasure in, long for or deeply desire. David here helps us understand the rightful place of God's precious Word in the life of the believer. In David's day the only written collection of God's revelation of Himself was the first five books of the Bible. These first five books are often called the Pentateuch. So if you are reading a commentary and someone sitting in an ivory tower uses this technical term for these books you can recollect your time spent reading our friendly blog and know of what the writer speaks! In David's day the people of God called these first five books "The Law." Some Israelites also call these books the "Torah" which means instruction. These five books contained the law, or instruction, by which God intended the ancient people of God to live their life.

Today, our collection of God's written revelation of Himself, includes 66 books in what Christians call the Bible. We have much more revelation than those following God in the days of David (around 900 BC)! What an incredible opportunity we have to read the Scriptures so we might know God's heart and follow His revealed will for our life! But the challenge David extended to his first readers 2900 years ago remains for those read this Psalm today: "Will you long for, desire and delight in God's Word?" This is the only way in which a person might find true happiness; we must follow what God has said is true. We must accept the truth of who Jesus is, give our life to Him and live for Him. We find the way to do these things by reading, learning and meditating upon God's Word, the Bible.

If you lack desire for the Bible begin to ask God for a changed heart. God wants His people to spend time reading and meditating upon the revelation of Himself found in His Bible. Those who choose to live for God by study and meditation upon His Word will find themselves in a whole new world of blessing and happiness...that's a promise!

James

Be Careful Where You Sit!

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of mockers."

David here is talking about those who choose to sit down and make their "abode" with those who mock truth. Have you ever spent much time around those who mock righteousness and ridicule what God says is true? A Christian usually becomes a bit upset or angry at such boastings if it is overt in nature. However, we can be guilty of allowing lesser slights of our Lord to slide for the sake of "peace." Standing up for what is true is not always an easy thing to do.

Peace is a good thing as long as its preservation doesn't require sacrifice of what is true. Ignoring ignorance or picking our "battles" can be a sign of wisdom but we should be very careful not to allow ourselves to be numbered with those who malign God's truth for to do so is to strengthen the rebellion of those who war against the Lord God Almighty!

James

Be Careful Where You Take Your Stand!

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scoffers." -- Psalms 1:1

Today I want to take a look at the second phrase found in verse 1 of Psalms 1, "nor stands in the way of sinners." What is David telling us with this small stroke of the "pen?" Interestingly the word translated here "stand" means to "take one's stand, take a stand or become the servant of." How interesting to consider all that this verse might mean for the Christian! If we take our stand with sinners we become the servant of the sin for which we take a stand. David here sounds much like Paul in Romans 6!

Sin may be very tempting but consider the consequences! Sin entices, embraces and enslaves the one who "takes his stand" with those who have chosen to reject God's will and way of doing things.

James

Where Are You Headed?

This week I want to spend some time in Psalm 1. This short chapter in the Bible is easy to memorize and I encourage you to do so as we meditate upon the truth of God's Word together.

Psalm 1 begins "Blessed are those who do not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." What a powerful encouragement to live life with God!

The word translated in our passage "wicked" was used to describe those who were outlaws, hostile to God and unrepentantly bad. We do want relationships with those who do not know Christ so we might be used of God to lead them to salvation. However, there is a difference between having a relationship with a non-Christian and "walking" with them. The word translated "walk" carries with it much more than the idea of a stroll in the park or simple association! David is here indicating a joining of one's life to the same type of "path" or behavior as those who have chosen to be hostile to God's way of doing things. Make sure your associations with non-Christians never lead you to change the path upon which you are walking!

We do well to remember the meaning of the word repentance when considering the first phrase of Psalm 1:1. We have turned and left the path of wickedness to walk a better way, the way of Christ. We now walk with Jesus and can never live life as one who never met Christ! Proverbs 4:23 reads, "Guard your heart for it is the well-spring of life." You and I walk with Christ now; may our heart never be deterred from the path we have chosen to walk!

James

Christian Meditation: Is There Such a Thing?

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the Law of the Lord and on His Law he meditates day and night." -- Psalm 1:1-2

Psalms 1 teaches the believer to meditate on God's Law day and night. The "Law" spoken of in this passage is what the Psalmist called God's Word. David wrote most of the Psalms around 900 BC and the only written Scripture at the time was the first five books of the what we now call the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These five books were called the "Law" at the time of David's writing. So David is teaching us to meditate on the Bible, God's revelation of Himself to man. When is the last time you were encouraged to meditate? Most churches shy away from the idea of meditation fearing people will confuse Biblical meditation with eastern varieties. But, proper meditation is important to the believer in Christ! A blessed life is promised to those who will meditate on God's Word regularly.

Eastern meditation encourages its adherents to empty their mind and think of nothing. This process allows the mind to become a playground of demonic influence and many folks have had altered states of "consciousness" by following such practices. This type of meditation should never be a part of the believers life!

Christian meditation is the filling of the mind with the Word of God. When believers meditate they open their mind to the Holy Spirit and allow opportunity for God's Word to indwell the deepest recesses of their soul. When believers meditate they offer their mind, heart and soul to God's Spirit. Christian meditation gives believers a better understanding of God's Word and helps them to better apply it to their life. Deeper understanding and application of God's Word then helps the follower of Christ to more readily obey God's will for his or her life.

Take time this week to meditate on God's Word. Read a passage, go to a quiet place, ask God to teach you and then consider what you have read. Allow time for God to bring understanding and application to the passage you read in your devotional time with Him. If you have never meditated upon God's Word you will be pleasantly surprised by the blessing such spiritual discipline can bring to your life!

James

This video will really make you think about your life in Christ. Hope it touches you as it has me today.

James