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In the Part One and Two of the series, we mentioned sitting, listening and asking question as some of the things Christians must focus on doing to receive the Word of God that is preached or taught. In final part, we wish to talk about examining Scriptures and meditation as part of principles to receive the Word of God.
Examining Scriptures
The Bible says the believers in Berea were different from those in Thessalonica in that when they listened to the Word, and went home, they searched the Scriptures to see if the things Paul had taught them were true.
“Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11).
However, most of today’s Christians both the educated and uneducated have no interest in personally seeking insight into the Word of God. We think we know, but we know nothing. We read every readable material except our Bibles, Christian books and articles and yet we claim we love Jesus Christ.
Many of us do not know that as we read the Bible, God talks to us. Those who sincerely love Jesus Christ love to read His Word and meditate on it day and night.
Today, there are days set aside for Christians to go to their pastors for counselling. Counselling is a necessary part of ministry if it is designed and done in agreement with the Word of God. But we know situations where people go to pastors for counselling and end up tempting them to sin against God.
And some pastors encourage their members to go to them for directions and prayers for visas, marriages, money, jobs and other breakthroughs. Most Pastors who do these things ask their members to pay consultation fees, but they never encourage them to ask questions about their teachings or read their Bibles.
Hardly will today’s Christians go to their pastors and ask pertinent questions about a teaching they gave previously for insights, knowledge and better understanding. They have no burden to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We need to change and do the will of God.
Meditation
Finally, you must meditate on the Word of God after listening to it. If you want to receive revelation from God’s Word, then make time to meditate on keys verses that hit your heart like bullet.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8).
Meditation in the context of this teaching means thinking deeply about what you have read to ensure that your heart absorbs the Word to become an integral part of your being. In meditation, we deeply think about the Word of God with our mind and then receive it with our heart to saturate it.
When this happens you find yourself easily acting on the Word of God, influencing your conduct, breaking free from the controlling power of sin over your life and becoming prosperous in whatever you do by the will of God.
Moreover, when we listen to Word of God with meditation, we become familiar with truth or we get to know the truth just as Jesus Christ points out, “…“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8: 31-32).
By James Quansah
