The previous series to this blog post was about Bible study steps. One of those steps (number four) was meditation. I believe meditation is poorly understood and infrequently practiced. As I said in that series, part of the reason for underutilization of meditation is that it takes time. We rush through life trying to do too much, and it spills over into our quiet time.
I don’t believe meditation is optional for the Christian. It is life. It is growth. It roots us deeply in God and His Word. Meditation is receiving sustenance from God resulting in the ability to bear Christian fruit. Here what the Psalmist writes:
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. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers (Psalm 1:1-3, NIV).
What a great passage from God’s Word. But did you see it? Did you hear what God said through the Psalmist? The righteous, blessed man delights in and meditates on God’s Word. But there’s more. He meditates continually–day and night. Too often we do our devotions and then rush to the next thing on our agenda leaving behind what we read, what we heard.
Henry Blackaby has written a great article entitled Meditation. Toward the beginning of the article he says, “Scripture is wonderful, if you meditate on it.” So much is missed when we read without slowing down to listen. God desires to speak to us with His still small voice. But we miss so much when we fail to meditate on God and His Word.
Blackaby defines meditation a bit differently. He says meditation is “that moment when God confronts you with the truth about Himself. It is that moment when you go into the presence of God and let God discuss it with you until you know exactly how to respond to Him, however long it takes.” Wow! Is that possible in this day of 5-minute devotions? When was the last time you slowed down enough to “let God discuss” His Word with you?
Sunday School should be a community where meditation is taught and practiced. The teacher should ask attenders to read God’s Word and then allow a time of silence to allow Him to speak. The teacher should ask questions about God’s Word and allow silence while attenders seek God and His Word in response. If meditation is not taught in Sunday School, it likely won’t be practiced at home and in private devotions.
Want to be a “tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither?” Want whatever you do to prosper? Meditate on God and His Word “day and night.” Teach your children and your class to do the same. Be revolutionary!
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