There is much talk today about meditation. Bookstore shelves are filled to capacity with books on how to channel the mind in an empty promise to attain peace and tranquility through meditation. Seeking the inner-self, finding ones-self, lifting our conscience to a higher plain; these are all used in today’s language in regard to meditation.
Dr. Albert Mohler has written an interesting article on the subject of medication entitled, “The Empty Promise of Meditation.” He writes of David:
In Psalm 119, David writes, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.” [Psalm 119:97] David’s meditation did not revolve around David, nor did it involve David trying to empty his mind into silence. He desperately wanted to hear from God, and he knew he would hear directly from God in the law. He studied the Scriptures in order to cleanse his mind of wrong thoughts and have them replaced with right thoughts and patterns of thinking.
Just as David had a deep desire to hear from God, it is imperative for Christians to meditate, but not in some sub-spiritual exercise that includes folded legs, candles lit, and soft humming but with a sincere desire to hear from God. Christians are commanded to meditate on God’s Word. In my reading this morning a verse from the Read the rest of this entry »
For the past few days I have been thinking about the birth and incarnation of the Lord Jesus. About this time of year I begin to get out my Christmas CD’s and listen to a few of my favorite songs. Then I put them away and revive them again after Thanksgiving. However, this year while meditating upon the birth of our Lord I was struck with an inner sweetness and delight when thinking of the Apostle John’s words, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). I was enraptured with joy when what came to my mind was a sweet conjunction of humility and majesty, of divinity and flesh, of meekness and glory. Just to think that the King of the cosmos became flesh in order to purchase and pardon and join Himself with His beloved Bride, the church, for the glory and exaltation of God the Father.
The church father, Junius, has written of his reaction to the first time he ever read John 1:14, “At the very first view, although I was deeply engaged in other thoughts, that grand chapter of the evangelist and apostle Read the rest of this entry »
This short book is meant to do no less than lay out the essentials of the Christian message, the gospel. It can therefore serve as an introduction to the Christian faith for those who are unfamiliar with it or who may have been away from it for some time.
“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
“God is concerned about our sanctification, and the ultimate goal is glorification, therefore chastisement is necessary in this life. When you ask, ‘Why has this happened to me?’ are you quite sure that you were not allowing that thing to come between you and God? It may be the death of a dear one, it may be financial loss – I do not care what it is – are you sure that that was not not monopolizing the place of God? God so loves us, and is so concerned about us, that sometimes he strikes us with illness, we may even die, in order that the ultimate good may be safeguarded. If we allow these things to come between us and God’s purpose, then we must not be surprised and disappointed if we find God dealing with us. My dear friends, put this first and never lose your hold of it: if you are a child of God, other things will have to go. He is holding on to you, and he will go on working in you, until you have arrived at that state for which he has destined you. If you are convinced of that, you will not murmur and complain, but in the midst of your loss and heartbreak you will rather turn to God and say, ‘God forgive me, I thank you even for this, because I now see your purpose.’”
- D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, from the sermon God’s Special Concern for His People, Philippians 2:14-16a
"It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plain, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our blest blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of his providence." - Susannah Spurgeon
My name is Dustin Benge. I am the pastor-teacher of First Baptist Church of Jackson, Kentucky, a reader, writer, blogger, Master's student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and above all, lover of the Lord Jesus Christ. To find out more please visit the About page.
