| Obedience through Meditation |
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In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley
April 24, 2008 - Obedience through Meditation - Joshua 1:7-9
1:7 Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest have good success whithersoever thou goest. 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon 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. 1:9 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not affrighted, neither be thou dismayed: for Jehovah thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
For believers to obey the Lord, daily meditation upon Scripture is essential. But, some Christians try to live the will of God while opening the Bible only at church. This practice is similar to playing in a basketball game without attending any practices. It results in a lot of errors and frustration.
The Bible's purpose is to shine a light on God's true nature. It teaches believers His principles and commands. This equips them to make decisions that are pleasing to Him. (Dr. Charles Stanley?) I once skipped reading God's Word for a week so that I would know what non-meditating believers experience. Even in so short a time, I got "rusty". My thinking was clouded. My attitude suffered. I could feel my heart growing cool to God.
Daily meditation keeps us focused upon our Father. Learning about the Lord will not do us much good if all the knowledge remains in our head. Meditation's a tool that encourages believers to use godly principles in the world. The practice of reflecting on Scripture involves reading a passage and then asking ourselves some questions. What was God teaching in these verses? How do His instructions relate to my heart and life?
How can I apply these words today?
In keeping with the basketball analogy, we can think of the Bible as our playbook for a successful Christian life. We don't want to be unprepared team members. If we're going to follow the Lord's will and please Him, we must read and meditate on His Word regularly. |
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