FW: Thoughts for Today...

 

 

 

From: Sean Ali [mailto:Sean.Ali@MF.co.za]
Sent: 23 May 2013 08:13 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: Thoughts for Today...

 

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night...”

Joshua 1:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe 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.

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If we meditate on God’s Law, and I don’t mean the Mosaic Law, then we will “that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.” You can’t obey what you do not know. And God promises to “make your way prosperous” and you’ll have “good success” if you meditate on. Meditating and memorizing Scripture is like “hiding His Word” in your heart. When you are tempted, you can more easily resist the temptation and not give in to it. You will know that identifying with the temptation is to identify with the First Adam.

 

Meditating and memorizing Scripture, you will understand that your Identification is found in the Second Adam Romans 5: 15 “ ¹⁵ But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.”– Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world! Hallelujah what an awesome truth!

Meditating and memorizing Scripture will render the following results:

1.      We will be Blessed – Psalm 1:1 “ Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;”

2.      We will delight in the law’s of God – Psalm 1: 2 “But his delight is in the law of the Lord,”

3.      The best part is found in verse of Psalm 1 in verse 3 “ ³ He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.” As read in Joshua 1:8

There is so much power even in one verse…in one word…that we don’t tap that power when we just read, we have to mediate on it as well. The Scriptures often tell us to do this both day and night and so you can never meditate on it if you are not reading it…both day and night.

Meditating and memorizing Scripture will bring Joy and God is well pleased when we meditate on His divine Word! In Psalm 104:34“ ³⁴ May my meditation be pleasing to Him; I will rejoice in the Lord.” we read that rejoicing in the Lord is tied to meditating on His Word. Imagine you get a letter from your loved one. You have been separated from him or her for a long time. You love re-reading it…reflecting on the words, and so you will rejoice in this letter and your loved one and you will meditate on certain lines, would you not? The same applies to God’s Word. It is the greatest Love letter ever written!

To “fix” your eyes is to meditate on specific things and these things (like teachings) are in the written Word of God and you will be amazed at how the Holy Spirit will enlighten your mind to it Psalm 119:15 says “ ¹⁵ I will meditate on Your precepts and have respect to Your ways [the paths of life marked out by Your law].” How often have we missed the meaning of this verse just by reading it - I will meditate on Your precepts and have respect to Your ways” Praise God for this Truth!

In Philippians 4:8 we see that although Paul didn’t use the word mediate the same is implied. Let’s read the scripture Philippians 4:8 “ ⁸ For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].”

Our mouth can speak wisdom and blessings only because the meditation of our hearts is on God’s Word and this gives us better understanding. This is not a subjective human wisdom but the wisdom of God Himself because when our hearts mediate on His truth (which is objective), what we say will be wise because it is the wisdom of God. 

The path to destruction is broad but the way of life is narrow and winding and few are they that find it – Matthew 7:13 ¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.” This makes me want to weep too. For all those who refuse to believe, those who will not come to saving faith, I meditate on their eternal, future fate. That makes me want to share the gospel even more. 

I want to be about my Father’s business and Preaching the Good News about His Kingdom. Meditate on what breaks God’s heart (Sin) and your heart will be broken too. Meditate on the Word of God and you will hide it in your heart (memorize it). Then you will have the Word in you to be able to resist when temptation comes. 

The Bible is full of God’s desire, make them your desires too - let’s look at a few of them:

1 Peter 3:9

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹ Never return evil for evil or insult for insult (scolding, tongue-lashing, berating), but on the contrary blessing [praying for their welfare, happiness, and protection, and truly pitying and loving them]. For know that to this you have been called, that you may yourselves inherit a blessing [from God—that you may obtain a blessing as heirs, bringing welfare and happiness and protection].

1 Timothy 2:1-4

Amplified Bible (AMP)

2 First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,

² For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that [outwardly] we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life [and inwardly] a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way.

³ For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior,

⁴ Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.

Ezekiel 18:23

Amplified Bible (AMP)

²³ Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked? says the Lord, and not rather that he should turn from his evil way and return [to his God] and live?

THE BORN AGAIN EXPERIENCE

John 3:10, "Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?"

JOHN 3:1-21

 
The Greek word translated "master" here actually means, "an instructor, doctor, teacher". Nicodemus was a very educated man in religious matters, yet he didn't have the slightest idea what Jesus was talking about.

Nicodemus' relationship with God had all been academic. He knew a lot about God, but he didn't know God personally. Jesus had a union with God that was unique and Nicodemus was intrigued. God was Jesus' father. This was foreign to Nicodemus.

Jesus had not been educated by man and yet He knew God in a way that the theologians and seminary graduates of His day didn't. He shocked Nicodemus when He told him that the only way to truly know God was through an experience of becoming born again.

The number one thing that sets Christianity apart from religion is this born again experience. We don't just have a different doctrine than the others.

We have been born from above. We have Jesus Himself living in our hearts. Christianity is a relationship, not a religion. We truly fellowship with God as our father. A man with a born again experience is never at a loss when confronted by a man with an argument.

ONLY THE HUNGRY ARE FED

Matthew 5:6, "Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled."

MATTHEW 5:1-9

 
In the natural world, people eat even when they aren't hungry. Many of us can prove that by turning sideways and looking at ourselves in the mirror. But in the spiritual realm, only those who are hungry can get fed. One of the worst things that can happen to us is spiritual complacency.

Being hungry for the things of God is one of the best things that can happen to us. Most people don't feel that way. They would rather have the feeling of being full. But Jesus promised us that fullness would follow hunger. No hunger, no fullness.

Therefore, what many people hate is actually a sign of spiritual health. Longing for more of God is a healthy sign. No one hungers for God on their own. That is not the nature of man. No man hungers for God unless the Spirit of God is drawing him (John. 6:44).

Hungering for God doesn't cause God to move in our lives, but it is a sign that God is already at work in us. We should praise God for spiritual hunger and be encouraged. He doesn't make us hungry and then let us starve. He does so in order to fill us with His blessings and love. We need a hunger that will never be satisfied until the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Kind Regards

 

Sean Ali | Team lead: IT Strategic Projects | Mutual & Federal Insurance Company Limited

Authorised Financial Services Provider | A Member of the Old Mutual Group

Tel: +27 (0)11 374 2570 | Fax: +27 (0)11 833 1111

Email: Sean.Ali@mf.co.za

 

 

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