this series of posts reflects some things very dear to me and contain actual excerpts from a conversation with a friend... bear with it as you read as the primary body of the posts will be the transcripts from a facebook im session between the two of us as we considered life with God, meeting Him in the Scriptures - being molded and shaped by His Word, Spirit, attitude, His very person... and our struggle to be, well, consistent
spending time together, working through how we might be disciples OF Jesus, not merely converts TO Christianity... thanks.
tony
me and a friend of mine, matt, catch up occasionally via facebook im. we chat about life, family, work, one day the question came up "how's your walk, you know, with God?" and a discussion began - a discussion that included things like "not bad", "i wish it could be better" and "i can't seem to read the Bible consistently". well, as we continue this talk, we challenged each other to take a fresh look at the Bible, God, His love for us, His desire for us to know Him more, and in so, approach the His Word with a different attitude and perspective.
over the following days and weeks, if we would see the other on line, we would drop a quick note and just ask "how's the reading?" or "how's your meeting with God?" and the answer has been "getting better, but..."
so, with that in mind i am going to post some of the things that we've talked about and let you see what is transpiring (i purposely say "transpiring" and not transpired to continue to emphasize that this is an ongoing process that will last the rest of our lives - see "under construction" and that walking together, we are challenging each other to Jesus for who He is in and through His Word - meeting with Him)
so first - the original answer to the original delemna - How can i be consistent? the answer: change the way you see (meeting with) God, how you approach this time, and the Word itself:
look to see Jesus in the Word; meet with Him just as you would a friend - i like having breakfast with, or to sit quietly in my big cushy chair - reading slowly and delibrately - just spendin time. here are some tips that help me:
One way to approach the Bible: Fear and humility
Deut 11:18; Matt 7:26
Pray: ask, seek and be still
ask for a teachable heart (Psalm 119:1-18, 24)
ask for wisdom, strength and guidance (James 1:5; Psalm 119:28, Isaiah 40:28-31, 41:10; Psalm 23:3, 25:9 – the outcome Isaiah 16:-17)
-
ask for a desire for the word – (Psalm 119:33-40)
summon the courage to listen, see and obey (2Peter 1)
Read, re-read a section at a time
pick a book – this depends on where you are
read it through – take your time and read it through, look up parallel passages, it will give a broader sense of the completeness of the scriptures
Stop and meditate on words, phrases, concepts and principles – (Psalm 119:48)
What does this mean?
What does it imply?
What does this do to what I know and believe?
- How might this change the way live and love?
Look for the person of Jesus, His... exemplified by: matthew 5, 8, 9; mark 9:14-31, 10:13-31; luke 5, 6; john 4;
person
character
attitude
behavior
...use your imagination - here are some passages that paint splendid word pictures that will guide you: gen 1,2; psalm 1, 19, 23, 36, 113; job 38, 39; col 1; phil 2; heb 12 - among many others, here are some others: the“the Kingdom of Heaven is like...” pasages: Matt 13, 18, 20, 22; Mark 4; Luke 13
listen to the parable
put yourself in the story
His voice, listen to crowd, the wind through the trees
read it out loud with voice inflection
Look for
a command to obey
a sin to confess
an attitude to adopt or change
a promise to receive
to find joy
Pray some more
to be a doer and not a hearer only
that you would have faith and walk close to God as He leads
to know Jesus and be more like Him
Follow through
be and do what you have seen and heard
go do it
go be it
tell someone about what you've read Deut 11:18; psalm 92
there is a time for study, but there is always a time for relationship, the art is not taking it for granted or taking advantage of the privilege of grace (by not meeting)
