More Than A Book Pt. 3

“You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.” -- John‬ ‭5‬:‭39‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

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We are currently in a series called More Than A Book. In this series, we’ve talked about knowing Jesus and not just the Bible. In John 5:39-40, Jesus clearly delineated knowing the Scriptures and knowing the reason behind the Scriptures, Jesus. The problem is that many believers think that they know Jesus because they know the Bible, but this isn’t entirely accurate. The Pharisees knew the scriptures better than everybody, but they didn’t know Jesus. In fact, they were the ones that ended up crucifying Him. You see the problem with knowing the Scriptures but not knowing Jesus? It gets you caught up in ultra-strict religion and putting God into a box that He was never designed to fit in. Knowing the Scripture without knowing Jesus will lead you to unknowingly reject what God has for you and ruin your greatest blessing, your fellowship with Jesus. Thank God it doesn’t have to be that way; we can know both. Our last blog discusses how to read the Bible to know Jesus. In this blog, we will talk about an overlooked biblical principle: meditation.

Meditation has taken on a new connotation in today’s world. When people hear meditation, they think of somebody sitting down, maybe with their legs crossed, having their eyes closed, and focusing on deep, controlled breathing. I’m not against that type of meditation. I heard it has some benefits, but it is not the type of meditation I am talking about, nor does the Bible talk about that meditation. In Joshua 1:8, God tells His people, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”‬ God didn’t tell them to read the Book day and night but to meditate on it day and night. The word meditate used here means to ponder. God wants us to always speak His word and carefully think about His word before jumping to conclusions. According to the Scripture, if we do those two things, we will be able to do and live according to how God wants us to, and we will be prosperous and successful.

I’ve realized that God often speaks to us when we meditate. Take Moses in front of the Red Sea, for example; in Exodus 14:14, Moses tells the people to be still. In the next verse, God is giving them instructions to move forward. It is often in the stillness of our silence that we will receive divine instructions on what we should do next. I learned that God will give you revelation in your meditation. In Acts 10:17-19, Peter is meditating on a vision, and while in his meditation, the Spirit gives him revelation on the vision he just had. Peter's experience in Acts 10:17-19 highlights an aspect of meditation we often overlook. It's about pondering the Scriptures and creating a space for divine revelation. In those moments of reflection, God can unveil deeper truths and guide our journey. 

So, let's embrace this overlooked biblical principle of meditation. Going beyond just reading the Scriptures, taking the time to meditate, ponder, and listen. As we do, we open ourselves to a richer understanding of Jesus, allowing His truths to unfold in our hearts. In the quiet moments of meditation, we discover words on a page and a living, breathing connection with the Savior. In the stillness, He speaks, revealing Himself in ways that surpass our expectations. Let's continue this journey of knowing Jesus more, not just as a historical figure in the Scriptures but as a living, present reality in our lives today.