Reflection vs Reading
Sunday we learned that most things in life are much easier once someone teaches us how to do them vs trying to figure it out on our own. The best way to learn how to be successful in relationships is to get into God's word. According to Howard & William Hendricks in Living By The Book, some of the excuses for not being in the Bible are:
- I don't know how
- I'm just a layman
- I just don't have the time
- I have my doubts about the Bible
- I just can't seem to make it interesting
And there are hundreds more I'm sure. But whatever your excuse for not taking time each day to delve into God's word, I want to ask you to put your excuse on the back burner for a while and make reflecting on God's word each day a primary goal of your life.
The difference between reflecting and reading is, well - everything. It's like reading directions to get somewhere vs reading a letter from a very dear friend. Remember those letters? You know, we wrote them on paper then we folded them and stuck them in an envelope, gave them to the postman, and off went our sentiments, our emotions, and our love. Come on, folks! Who gets excited over directions? Directions are used to get you somewhere and then you're through with them; nonemotional, noncommittal, non-threatening - they're just directions.
But when you read a letter, oh the feeling, the emotion, the anticipation for what comes next. It's a different world when we reflect rather than just read because reflecting is "sweeter than honey" and a "delight" as we take to heart what we read and study it, meditate on it, and remember it.
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103 (ESV)
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2 (NKJV)
Why not start today with Psalm 8 and reflect on the beauty, excellence and majesty of God. More to come!
Until Tomorrow,
Pastor Steve
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