Are you a person of unwavering conviction, or just plain stubborn? I'm confident that I'm a mixture of both qualities, but my concern is regarding which is most abundant and evident.
"his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 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." (Psalm 1:2-3)
I'm fairly certain that I'm stubborn in my opinions, but my true heart's desire is to be resolute in faith and truth. This much is certain: an unwavering commitment to read and meditate on God's word results in an immovable life; "like a tree firmly planted by streams of water". As such, one's life is fruitful and productive, and safeguarded against "wilting" amidst adversity. Again, the bedrock for this kind of grounded life is an absolute commitment to saturate one's life with God's word.
I discovered a number of years ago that there is a huge difference between knowing God's word and loving it. I've met exemplary Bible students with an impressive intellectual grasp of the Bible. Not all of them, however, had a real passion for living the life outlined in Scripture. By contrast, I've met people with a fairly simple understanding of the Bible who were passionate to live and share it. The ideal is a passion for both qualities.
The well-grounded life is no casual pursuit. Those who merely "sample" God's word on occasion will never withstand the major storms of life. The only way to be "firmly planted", yield "fruit in its season", and not "wither", is to meditate "day and night" on God's word. This is a passionate life pursuit.
It's a trite but true saying: get in to God's word, and let it get in to you. Devotional guides and commentaries are of some value, but the greatest value is simply opening God's word firsthand, and letting God communicate His message by His Holy Spirit through it.
Today's simple suggestion is this: take time to read the six short verses of Psalm 1, and mediate on their meaning. What does God want to stir up in your life as you read these words? What other Bible passages is He prompting you to read and ponder? What discipline is He wanting you to develop to be more firmly grounded and productive? These are questions and considerations that will take you far in developing true passion and conviction.
Cultivating a passion for God's word is of utmost importance. May a true delight in His word be both your joy and your foundation.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
"his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 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." (Psalm 1:2-3)
I'm fairly certain that I'm stubborn in my opinions, but my true heart's desire is to be resolute in faith and truth. This much is certain: an unwavering commitment to read and meditate on God's word results in an immovable life; "like a tree firmly planted by streams of water". As such, one's life is fruitful and productive, and safeguarded against "wilting" amidst adversity. Again, the bedrock for this kind of grounded life is an absolute commitment to saturate one's life with God's word.
I discovered a number of years ago that there is a huge difference between knowing God's word and loving it. I've met exemplary Bible students with an impressive intellectual grasp of the Bible. Not all of them, however, had a real passion for living the life outlined in Scripture. By contrast, I've met people with a fairly simple understanding of the Bible who were passionate to live and share it. The ideal is a passion for both qualities.
The well-grounded life is no casual pursuit. Those who merely "sample" God's word on occasion will never withstand the major storms of life. The only way to be "firmly planted", yield "fruit in its season", and not "wither", is to meditate "day and night" on God's word. This is a passionate life pursuit.
It's a trite but true saying: get in to God's word, and let it get in to you. Devotional guides and commentaries are of some value, but the greatest value is simply opening God's word firsthand, and letting God communicate His message by His Holy Spirit through it.
Today's simple suggestion is this: take time to read the six short verses of Psalm 1, and mediate on their meaning. What does God want to stir up in your life as you read these words? What other Bible passages is He prompting you to read and ponder? What discipline is He wanting you to develop to be more firmly grounded and productive? These are questions and considerations that will take you far in developing true passion and conviction.
Cultivating a passion for God's word is of utmost importance. May a true delight in His word be both your joy and your foundation.
Steve
©Steve Taylor, 2013
posted by steve @ 7:58 AM
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