Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:1, 2 KJV)
So I get into these email discussions, which I really hate to acknowledge the label: debate, but that's what some people call them. To me they're all simply opportunities to get to know other people and allow them to get to know you. I say the written word has its limit, and I've told most people I know about elevating the level of communication to get away from all these written words, but alas, we continue… It's insanity; that's what it really is: doing the same thing and expecting different results. BUT, every once in a while – actually more often than not – I get a very valuable nugget of truth, or element of wisdom to add to my “tool box" for practical and personal application as I continue to march. Last night provided one of those that I wanted to write about.
In a discussion that started on the day we celebrated the resurrection of our Messiah, which devolved into the pro's and con's of celebrating that day as the rest of the world does, I was challenged many times. One of those challenges was for me to explain what I mean by “meditating on God's Word," which I actually have never really been given an opportunity to articulate to someone. I've told people during Bible studies that I like to meditate on the Scripture out loud with others as we ask questions of meaning and “think out loud" about how to apply it. The simplest definition I can think of for meditation is to think on deliberately for a period of time, and that's pretty close to dictionary.com's definition (feel free to look it up)
But of course, for me, simple is never sufficient, remember my modification of KISS? Of course you don't! That's why I linked it. But I wanted more elaboration, and as you can see from my alliteration in the title, I'm liking M's right now for some reason.
I came up with 4 M's for MOOP's method of meditation, and I shared them with the gentleman who asked – I consider him a Mighty Man on my “Paul list" and I told him I'd blog about it so here they are and I'll elaborate on each one below: Memorize, Meaning, Matter, Master.
1) Memorizing Scripture is very important to me for many reasons, but at the top of the list is the ability I then have to call a passage to mind in the time of need – whether sharing Christ with an unbeliever or resisting my own temptation, the Word of God is absolutely invaluable, and when I spend time memorizing, I believe I am meditating on it by saying it over and over to get it in my head – its the intellect side of me that I'm aiming at with this first M.
2) Meaning is a quest for how this impacts my heart. It's the emotion side of me that I'd the target for this stage of meditation. I want to know not just what it can mean to me, but most importantly, what does this Scripture mean to God! After all, if it means something different to me than it means to God, them it doesn't really matter what it means to me, and that leads me to
Part 3.
3) Matter is another word for substance. This is where I take the Meaning and look for practical application steps. I'm not to the point of working it out in fear and trembling yet, but I'm closer than I was in the heart, because this is where I focus on my will or volition to use a big complicated word (the 3rd part of me – how God made all of us: mind, emotion and will) of course I want my will to be conformed to His, so here I ask questions about why does it matter – whats the underlying substance? Is it hidden or is it obvious? Why is it important that I do this or that exactly how it's written and how do I connect other passages to the meaning so I'm interpreting Scripture with Scripture, and not just what some Pastor says he thinks matters.
4) Mastering the message is last, and I really believe it won't be done till I'm dead – that's how long the sanctification process takes, so I've been told, and so I've experienced! But while I attempt to put into practice how the Word has affected my mind, emotions, and will I want to do it better each day. If I was able to be slow to speak and quick to listen in one occasion, maybe I want to be even slower, of not speak at all next time, and listen the whole time!
A balanced approach to all 4 phases in the meditation process is what I'm focused on. I don't want to spend all my time memorizing and none putting it into practice. That's like the guy who looks in the mirror one moment and turns away immediately forgetting what he looks like. No, I want to be a doer of the Word, and I've learned the hard way that the only way I can consistently do what it says is to consistently meditate on what it means and why it matters. Adding those 2 middle phases to the first and last that I mentioned seems to me to be a great way to accomplish that – being a doer of the Word!
Peace,
Adam
PS: I wasnt going to post a picture because I got a little annoyed by the google search for photos of meditation… No judgement here, but I am talking about a totally different kind of meditation than that shown in most images – what I am referring to has nothing to do with how your body is situated, it has everything to do with your mind, your emotions, and your will!