Reflection - Psalm 119:15

Meditate

Spurgeon had a good thought here... It is not the act of eating that actually nourishes our bodies, it is digestion... The same is true for our spiritual growth - merely listening to a sermon will not transform your heart and life, the Word of God must be digested and meditated upon to work in our members and change us.

What is it to go to church every week but never spend time musing upon the things of God? If you chew your food and spit it out right after the meal what good did it do you? Maybe you felt good during the songs, liked the taste of the food, heard something interesting from the pastor, commented on the decor in the dining room.... but once you leave, do you remember what you ate? Do you talk about it with those who ate with you? Did you practice cooking that delicious meal later in the week?

So it is with us and the precepts of the Lord.

The law of God, in light of Jesus, is not a burden any longer. We are free to follow, free to choose good. But knowing good takes time... a captive isn't illuminated to all the ways of the free man who saved him the day his bonds are cut, he must study the new civilization he's brought into - out of slavery and into freedom, out of death and into life.

And in that new life, Jesus - the embodiment of the law and the perfector of our faith changes us, molds us, teaches us about good and bad. His word is sweet and good.

Think about these things

The instruction from Paul is almost too simple... "just think about these things". By God's grace I think a lot... a lot. My thoughts are often hard to take hold of, and I'm led rather than leading in what I put my attention to, but also by God's grace I fixate on the things of God often. This has not always been, and is not always fun or exciting or without pain.

But we are all gifted by God in different ways, and afflicted in different ways. An affliction he's permitted in my life is often a blessing to me as my mind sometimes can't let go of things that are pure and pleasing and commendable. The overall thing that's on my mind every day is the freedom Jesus offers to choose good. The choice can only be made by the power of his resurrection, not by any moral teaching to be gleaned from his sermons as though he's nothing more than a philosopher.

But what could be sweeter today in our finite lives, than the ability and freedom to participate in bringing heaven to earth?

We have no means to do this though without meditating on the Lord's precepts... How else can we know what is pleasing to heaven?