Tenchi
Member
Psalm 1:1-3
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
1 How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.
I saw a recent video online of a dog that was rescued from owner-abuse under which it had suffered for a considerable length of time. Badly neglected, the poor creature was a bag of bones, its skin stretched over a starkly-protruding skeleton. It could not rise to greet its rescuers, or even properly wag its tail, so weakened was it. Months passed before it returned to full strength and was able to bound about, barking, and chasing balls. What a difference between the sickly, immobile and forlorn animal the rescuers found and the leaping, playful canine it became when it was properly fed and watered!
I've met many Christians who are, spiritually-speaking, a lot like this dog when it was first found by its rescuers, desperately weak and unmoving. In their walk with God, they are entirely stationary, remaining unchanged in their desires, thinking and character though they've claimed to be following Christ for decades. They know nothing more of God personally than they knew when they first came to faith in Christ, a personal history of His work in them non-existent. As well, they are desperately weak spiritually, their lives full of compromises - big and small - with the World, their own flesh, and the devil. Awfully, they don't see most of the compromises they're making every day, blinded and hardened as they are by the sin they've allowed to overtake them. They've been spiritually "sick" for a long time and they've become used to such a condition.
How have they come to be in such a miserable state-of-affairs? Typically, there are a complex of things working together to produce such living, but always a neglect of God's word is a major contributing factor. Because the Bible, God's Truth, is so absolutely necessary to the born-again believer's spiritual well-being, the devil works very hard to diminish its importance in their thinking. He offers distractions of all sorts, bottomless pits of entertainment, hobbies, "life-goals," relationships, and various fleshly desires that turn aside many Christians from study of, and conformity to, God's word. As this goes on, the devil cheers, for he knows that such neglect of Scripture will leave the Christian person spiritually-starved and impotent and thus an easy target for his predations. (1 Peter 5:8; John 10:10)
How does the Christian person justify constant neglect of God's word, satisfied with meager crumbs of truth gleaned from a "milky," chicken-soup-for-the-soul devotional, when God is so clear about the vital character of His word?:
Matthew 4:4
4 But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.'"
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped unto all good works.
Psalm 119:105
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
1 Peter 2:2
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that you may grow thereby:
Proverbs 3:1-4
1 My son, do not forget my teaching, But let your heart keep my commandments;
2 For length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you.
3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man.
Matthew 22:29
29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.
And so on.
Scripture is the born-again believer's spiritual "sword" (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12); it is their spiritually-nourishing "bread"; it is a guiding light through life; it is essential to the believer's spiritual growth. When neglected, the result, then, must be spiritual defenselessness, starvation, blindness, and immaturity. This has been illustrated in my own life and in the lives of many frustrated, spiritually-juvenile believers I've had the privilege of discipling over the years. If you want an impotent, stumbling, static walk with God, simply disregard His word.
What, exactly, ought the Christian person do with God's word? Well, there are three basic things: Meditate upon, memorize, and manifest it.
1.) Meditate.
Psalm 119:97
97 O how love I your law! It is my meditation all the day. (See also: Psalms 1, Philippians 3:8).
Meditation of God's word means eking out every bit of spiritual nourishment that can be had from it, like a cow chewing its cud over and over. This is accomplished through regular, prolonged study and contemplation of Scripture. A Bible Lexicon (dictionary), concordance, several trusted Scripture commentaries, perhaps even a few interlinear versions of the Bible, are very helpful aids in such study. A good basic grasp on logic and sound reasoning is also necessary, as is a knowledge of proper interpretive hermeneutics. Above all, a holy, humble, submissive walk with God must serve as the context within which such study occurs; for only in the midst of such a walk can the Spirit work to illuminate the believer to divine, eternal Truth. (John 14:26; John 16:13; 1 Corinthians 2:10-16; Psalms 66:18; Isaiah 59:2; 1 Peter 3:10-12)
When meditating, examine carefully the meaning of words and phrases, not just by looking at the root meaning of words (for words change in their meaning over time), but at their common usage at the time of their writing in Scripture, how the original recipients of a particular portion of Scripture would have understood it, at the immediate context of a word, phrase, verse or passage, and in consideration of the whole counsel of God's word as it pertains to what is being studied. Above all, give God protected time and space to direct your mind and heart into His Truth.
Continued below.