Last week
Gus Hernandez, a member of the Replicate team, and I were working on a Scripture memory plan for our church that involved selected passages from the book of Psalms. As we began sharing verses, we were reminded of the richness the Psalms contain. During the next several weeks, I want to share with you several of these verses that relate to spiritual growth.
As Gus and I considered the many verses coming to mind, we agreed that we couldn’t pass up Psalm 1. The reason we couldn’t pass it up was that this passage highlights a sharp contrast between a godly man or woman and the ungodly.
Verse 2 of Psalm 1 is especially meaningful:
Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.
(Psalm 1:2, CSB)
This verse declares that a growing disciple is satisfied by the Word of God. I would like to call your attention to two words that are used by the psalmist: the words “delight” and the word “meditate.”
- The Word captures a growing disciple’s affection.
The word translated “delight” means that the godly person has an
undying lovefor the Scriptures. In Psalm 119, the psalmist declares that he loves God’s Word more than the purest gold, and that God’s instruction is worth more than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.
Since I love your commands more than gold, even the purest gold. (Psalm 119:127, CSB)
Instruction from your lips is better for me than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (Psalm 119:72, CSB)
King David would express that his desire for God was even more important than sleep in Psalm 63:6.
When I think of you as I lie on my bed, I meditate on you during the night watches. (Psalm 63:6, CSB)
Job would say that his love for God’s Word was more important to him than food.
I have not departed from the commands from his lips; I have treasured the words from his mouth more than my daily food. (Job 23:12, CSB)
As I consider these verses, I’ve got to honestly ask myself, Do I delight in God’s Word? Do I have a desire for God’s Word like that? Do I desire being in His Word more than food, sleep, or riches? Do I have an “undying love” for times of rich fellowship with God around His Word?
- The Word captures a growing disciple’s attention.
The growing disciple seeks to give his full attention to the Word of God. In fact, the psalmist says he or she “meditates” on the scriptures day and night. To meditate means to saturate your mind with God’s Word. This word “meditate” brings to mind a dove’s cooing or a cow chewing the cud. It is the idea of mulling over something in the mind, and giving deep thought to it.
As I consider this I must also ask myself, has the Word of God captured my attention? Am I captivated by the Scriptures? Do I see God’s Word as sufficient to accomplish its work in my life?
During a time when I transitioned from one ministry to another, I realized that my family and I would have a financial deficit in what we needed to live on. I felt like I was being obedient to God, but at the same time was concerned about providing for my family. Immediately (because I loved the Scriptures and saturated my mind with His Word) I went to Psalm 84:11,
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord grants favor and honor; he does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.”
Every time I began to fret and become overly concerned with this financial need, I meditated on this phrase,
“He does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.” As I filled my mind with the truth of God’s Word it brought peace and comfort. Because I felt like I was being obedient to God’s calling and walking in His will, I had this calm assurance that God was going to provide for our needs. In fact, He did more than I could have imagined.
My prayer for you is that your affection and attention will be held captive by the Word of God and that you will know that God’s Word is sufficient to equip us for all that He has called us to do.
