MASENO UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN UNION
Meditation
Preached by Derrick Odhiambo — Maseno University Christian Union
Sermon Overview
The Power of Biblical Meditation
Brother Derrick Odhiambo opened his message by setting the stage for a profound exploration of biblical meditation, drawing from Joshua 1:8 as a foundational text. He emphasized that this discipline is not just an academic exercise but a vital pathway to a deeper relationship with God, crucial for every believer, especially students navigating campus life.
"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
Defining Biblical Meditation
Meditation, at its core, means to contemplate, ponder, keep one's mind fixed on something, or reflect deeply. Biblical meditation specifically directs this focus to the Word of the Lord. It's a deliberate act of taking a specific verse or passage that has touched you and spending time reflecting on what God is communicating through it. This goes beyond consistent Bible reading, which is about covering ground; meditation is about digging deep into a specific truth.
Biblical vs. Eastern Meditation: A Key Distinction
The preacher drew a clear contrast between biblical meditation and Eastern forms of meditation, such as those practiced by Buddhists or Hindus. While Eastern meditation aims to empty the mind of thoughts and desires, biblical meditation seeks to fill the mind with the Word of God.
An insightful analogy was used: Imagine two glasses of dirty water. Eastern meditation is like trying to clean the glass by scooping out the dirty water, eventually leaving it clean but empty. Biblical meditation, however, is like continuously pouring clean water into the dirty glass until it overflows, making the water clean and the glass full. This illustrates that biblical meditation is an active, filling process, not an emptying one.
Analogies for Deeper Understanding
1. The Cow Chewing Cud: A cow eats quickly in the morning (like reading the Bible rapidly), but later, in quiet, it brings back the grass to chew it again and again. This 'chewing cud' is akin to meditation – taking a verse and pondering it repeatedly to extract its full nourishment.
2. The Tree with Deep Roots: We see the bright leaves and fruits of a tree, but its strength comes from unseen roots spreading deep into the soil, anchoring it and drawing sustenance. Similarly, a person's visible spiritual strength and kindness are often the result of deep, unseen meditation on God's Word, which anchors them and provides spiritual food and water.
The Importance of Biblical Meditation: Intimacy with God
Why is meditation so crucial? Because God desires intimacy, not just information. While studying the Bible provides valuable information, meditation fosters a deep, personal connection with God. As Matthew 4:4 states, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." This intimacy transforms our lives, moving us beyond mere memorization to living out God's Word passionately in our daily situations.
Transformative Benefits of Meditation
Biblical meditation yields profound benefits for the believer:
1. Stability in the Word: Just as Jesus countered temptation with "It is written," meditating on God's Word provides a firm foundation and stability.
2. Transformed Hearts: Jeremiah 17:9 speaks of the deceitfulness of the human heart. Through deep meditation on God's Word, our hearts are converted and transformed by the Lord.
3. Victory Over Sin and Temptation: Psalm 119:9-11 teaches that a young person can keep their way pure by guarding it according to God's Word, storing it in their heart to avoid sin. Meditation helps us internalize the Word, equipping us for spiritual battle.
4. True Peace and Freedom from Anxiety: Anchoring ourselves in Christ, who is our peace, through meditation brings genuine peace and liberation from anxiety.
The Journey: From Reading to Becoming
The spiritual journey of engaging with God's Word follows a progression:
Read: Acquire the information.
Meditate: Ponder and digest the information deeply.
Obey: Act on what the Word says. Meditation without obedience is incomplete and will not root you.
Become: Through obedience, personal transformation occurs. The Word transforms you from the inside out, influencing your speech, actions, and how you treat others, slowly making you more like Christ.
Studying without meditation can lead to information that puffs up. Meditation without studying the Word can lead to fleeting feelings. But when you study, meditate, and obey, you experience lasting transformation.
The Indispensable Role of the Holy Spirit
We do not meditate alone. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and convictor. We must engage Him in our meditation, as He helps us to understand God's Word better and applies its truths to our hearts.
Practical Questions for Effective Meditation
To aid in deeper meditation, the preacher provided a series of questions to ask yourself as you engage with scripture:
1. Is there any truth about God for me to know? (e.g., God is my shepherd, protector, provider).
2. Is there any example for me to follow? (e.g., of love, patience, kindness).
3. Is there any command for me to obey?
4. Is there any doctrinal adjustment for me to make?
5. Is there any sin for me to forsake?
6. Is there any promise for me to claim?
7. How does this passage relate to Jesus?
By diligently asking these questions, you will gain a fuller understanding of God's Word and cultivate the personal relationship He desires with each of us. Make every effort to create time to meditate, ponder, and think about God's Word, for it is our daily bread.
Key Takeaways
Biblical meditation is a deliberate, deep contemplation of God's Word, actively filling our minds with truth, unlike Eastern meditation which seeks to empty the mind.
Move beyond mere Bible reading to a profound digestion of scripture, like a cow chewing its cud, allowing the Word to anchor and nourish your spiritual life.
Meditation fosters intimacy with God, transforming our hearts and providing stability, victory over sin, and true peace.
The process of spiritual growth involves reading, meditating, obeying, and ultimately becoming more like Christ through the Word's transformative power.
Engage the Holy Spirit in meditation, as He is our divine teacher who illuminates scripture and convicts our hearts.
Utilize specific questions (truth about God, examples to follow, commands to obey, sins to forsake, promises to claim, relation to Jesus) to guide and deepen your meditative practice.
Brother Derrick Odhiambo opened his message by setting the stage for a profound exploration of biblical meditation, drawing from Joshua 1:8 as a foundational text. He emphasized that this discipline is not just an academic exercise but a vital pathway to a deeper relationship with God, crucial for every believer, especially students navigating campus life.
"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
Defining Biblical Meditation
Meditation, at its core, means to contemplate, ponder, keep one's mind fixed on something, or reflect deeply. Biblical meditation specifically directs this focus to the Word of the Lord. It's a deliberate act of taking a specific verse or passage that has touched you and spending time reflecting on what God is communicating through it. This goes beyond consistent Bible reading, which is about covering ground; meditation is about digging deep into a specific truth.
Biblical vs. Eastern Meditation: A Key Distinction
The preacher drew a clear contrast between biblical meditation and Eastern forms of meditation, such as those practiced by Buddhists or Hindus. While Eastern meditation aims to empty the mind of thoughts and desires, biblical meditation seeks to fill the mind with the Word of God.
An insightful analogy was used: Imagine two glasses of dirty water. Eastern meditation is like trying to clean the glass by scooping out the dirty water, eventually leaving it clean but empty. Biblical meditation, however, is like continuously pouring clean water into the dirty glass until it overflows, making the water clean and the glass full. This illustrates that biblical meditation is an active, filling process, not an emptying one.
Analogies for Deeper Understanding
1. The Cow Chewing Cud: A cow eats quickly in the morning (like reading the Bible rapidly), but later, in quiet, it brings back the grass to chew it again and again. This 'chewing cud' is akin to meditation – taking a verse and pondering it repeatedly to extract its full nourishment.
2. The Tree with Deep Roots: We see the bright leaves and fruits of a tree, but its strength comes from unseen roots spreading deep into the soil, anchoring it and drawing sustenance. Similarly, a person's visible spiritual strength and kindness are often the result of deep, unseen meditation on God's Word, which anchors them and provides spiritual food and water.
The Importance of Biblical Meditation: Intimacy with God
Why is meditation so crucial? Because God desires intimacy, not just information. While studying the Bible provides valuable information, meditation fosters a deep, personal connection with God. As Matthew 4:4 states, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." This intimacy transforms our lives, moving us beyond mere memorization to living out God's Word passionately in our daily situations.
Transformative Benefits of Meditation
Biblical meditation yields profound benefits for the believer:
1. Stability in the Word: Just as Jesus countered temptation with "It is written," meditating on God's Word provides a firm foundation and stability.
2. Transformed Hearts: Jeremiah 17:9 speaks of the deceitfulness of the human heart. Through deep meditation on God's Word, our hearts are converted and transformed by the Lord.
3. Victory Over Sin and Temptation: Psalm 119:9-11 teaches that a young person can keep their way pure by guarding it according to God's Word, storing it in their heart to avoid sin. Meditation helps us internalize the Word, equipping us for spiritual battle.
4. True Peace and Freedom from Anxiety: Anchoring ourselves in Christ, who is our peace, through meditation brings genuine peace and liberation from anxiety.
The Journey: From Reading to Becoming
The spiritual journey of engaging with God's Word follows a progression:
Read: Acquire the information.
Meditate: Ponder and digest the information deeply.
Obey: Act on what the Word says. Meditation without obedience is incomplete and will not root you.
Become: Through obedience, personal transformation occurs. The Word transforms you from the inside out, influencing your speech, actions, and how you treat others, slowly making you more like Christ.
Studying without meditation can lead to information that puffs up. Meditation without studying the Word can lead to fleeting feelings. But when you study, meditate, and obey, you experience lasting transformation.
The Indispensable Role of the Holy Spirit
We do not meditate alone. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and convictor. We must engage Him in our meditation, as He helps us to understand God's Word better and applies its truths to our hearts.
Practical Questions for Effective Meditation
To aid in deeper meditation, the preacher provided a series of questions to ask yourself as you engage with scripture:
1. Is there any truth about God for me to know? (e.g., God is my shepherd, protector, provider).
2. Is there any example for me to follow? (e.g., of love, patience, kindness).
3. Is there any command for me to obey?
4. Is there any doctrinal adjustment for me to make?
5. Is there any sin for me to forsake?
6. Is there any promise for me to claim?
7. How does this passage relate to Jesus?
By diligently asking these questions, you will gain a fuller understanding of God's Word and cultivate the personal relationship He desires with each of us. Make every effort to create time to meditate, ponder, and think about God's Word, for it is our daily bread.
Key Takeaways
Biblical meditation is a deliberate, deep contemplation of God's Word, actively filling our minds with truth, unlike Eastern meditation which seeks to empty the mind.
Move beyond mere Bible reading to a profound digestion of scripture, like a cow chewing its cud, allowing the Word to anchor and nourish your spiritual life.
Meditation fosters intimacy with God, transforming our hearts and providing stability, victory over sin, and true peace.
The process of spiritual growth involves reading, meditating, obeying, and ultimately becoming more like Christ through the Word's transformative power.
Engage the Holy Spirit in meditation, as He is our divine teacher who illuminates scripture and convicts our hearts.
Utilize specific questions (truth about God, examples to follow, commands to obey, sins to forsake, promises to claim, relation to Jesus) to guide and deepen your meditative practice.
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