| Subject: Meditate |
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Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 21:54:32 08/18/13 Sun
Sunday, August 18, 2013Genesis 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide:
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
MED'ITATE, v.i. L. meditor.
1. To dwell on any thing in thought; to contemplate; to study; to turn or revolve any subject in the mind; appropriately but not exclusively used of pious contemplation, or a consideration of the great truths of religion.
How often do we go beyond reading the Word of God and truly meditate on it with the intent of fully digesting what His Word says? David said in Psalms 1:1-2 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. God had Joshua tell the people who were entering into their promised lands: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8)
Blessings, prosperity and success in life through understanding of God's Holy Word. Oh how we shortchange ourselves and God by carelessly perusing God's Word instead of really getting down and meditating on what it says. It was written of Samuel that "Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground." The words of God were so precious to young Samuel that he treated them as though they were as valuable as gold or silver. God's words were to be treasured and held dear.
Many times when I study the Bible I look closely at the individual words and look at them in their context. Many of God's deep secrets are revealed by meditating on a single word of phrase and then going back through the Bible and look at references that illuminate that word or phrase. Bible study is something that must be entered into by enlisting God's help before deep understandings can come. The Bible is not a newspaper or magazine to be read and comprehended with straightforward perusal. No, no and a thousand times no. Think about this. Luke 24:44-45 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
It's amazing to me when I think about it. These men had been with Jesus for over 3 years listening to Him. Accompanying Him everywhere He went. Think for a moment how many times they had sat around an evening fire eating their meal and conversing with the Lord of Glory. They had the opportunity to ask Him all the questions they desired to ask Him. They were brought up in the scriptures and the traditions of the Jews yet Jesus had to take them beyond all that. He had to open their understanding. This is what must happen to us. We must have our understanding opened or we will never get beyond the elementary levels of the Bible.
Saul of Tarsus was very learned in the scriptures but until Jesus led him into the wilderness of Arabia after his conversion and personally taught him (Gal. 1:12-18) Paul was ignorant of the deeper things of God.
God's Word is to be treated as nourishing food. It is to be "eaten" as manna! Many misunderstood one of the greatest teachings of Jesus concerning His Word. John 6:51-58 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily,I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58 This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.
This teaching of Jesus caused many of His disciples to turn back and quit following Him. Why? Because they had no understanding of what Jesus was really telling them. He was speaking in a mystery that He wasn't ready to fully reveal. Notice the hint He gave to them to allay their fears of His teaching. John 6:61-69 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? 62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:(watch carefully now) the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. 65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. 67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.
We see clearly then that Jesus was speaking of His WORD and not His flesh that we are to eat. Our material bodies are temporary but our souls are eternal. It is essential that we feed our souls as we do our natural bodies if we want to grow and mature in the Lord.
John wrote in the Book of John some essential words concerning Christ as the Word: John 1:1-3,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
To conclude. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. We can know nothing of Him but we get it through His Word. We are to meditate on it and in a real sense consume Him through His Word. After all the Bible is clear that Jesus equates Himself with His Word. He never separates Himself from His word. It is written in 1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Believe what? The preached Word of God. Consume it! Eat it! Digest it! Meditate on it! It brings life to your soul!
Lord;
I pray that you will bless this little study and enlighten all of us as to your Word. We know and realize we can know nothing apart from your revealing your Word to us through your Holy Spirit that resides in all of us who are saved. God we pray that you will open our understanding as you did the Apostles of old and then you will use us to tell others about you. God, help us to be as Samuel of old and esteem your word so precious that we would let none of your words fall to the ground. To you belongs all the praise, honor and glory.
In the matchless name of Jesus.
Amen
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