On meditating and studying the word of God

Today you will learn two new ways of appropriating the word of God. These are through meditating on the word and studying the Bible. If you are a new believer you should learn to master and develop good habits of hearing, reading, memorising, and meditating the word of God before you proceed to study the Bible in depth.

Meditate on God’s Word.

If you want to succeed in life it is important that you take time to meditate on God’s Word. The Bible promises that those who study God’s word will prosper in all they do (Josh. 1:8, Ps. 1:1-3).

When the people of Israel were on their way to the Promised Land, God sent them daily manna. Every morning when they woke they could go out and fetch the manna. “Manna” means literally “What is it?” The people wondered every morning; “What is it today?” “What will God give us today?” Look in Exodus 16:1-5,11-16 and you will find this described.

Deuteronomy 8:3,5 says that God gave them manna to teach them that they needed His Word. In this way He has shown people throughout the ages, that it is very important to feed oneself on the Word of God.

To meditate on God’s Word is to think of what the Word means. It is to try to understand what God tells me to do. It is to understand God’s will. There is a difference between researching and chewing over, studying and meditating. When we do research, we use our mind and intelligence but when we meditate, we use our heart. To meditate on God’s Word is to “chew the cud” in God’s Word. (Lev. 11:1) To study is to use the intellect, the brain. To meditate has to do with the heart, the inner man, the spirit. We meditate on God’s Word to get fed and be built up.

Exercise:

Read Psalm 1:1-3 and write down the benefits of meditating on the word of God

Study God’s Word.

We need to have the same attitude as the Christians in Berea. They received God’s Word with a willing and open heart while they searched the Scriptures daily to find the truth (Acts 17:11).

Proverbs 2:1-5 shows us how to study the Bible. We are to search for treasures; find valuable truth; useful wisdom which will make our lives richer and our service for God more fruitful.

Like Ezra we want to study the Bible so that we can learn to know God’s will and always do what God wants. When the Word has become part of us we can teach others what is right. We want to work hard to get to know the Bible so that we can present God’s Word correctly and have nothing to be ashamed of (Ezra 7:10, 2Tim 2:15).

When we have read the whole Bible and have an overview over it we can go more into detail as we study. A good knowledge of the Bible as a whole will be a good help and safe background as we progress in studying God’s Word.

Martin Luther once said that he studied the Bible the same way as one picks apples. First he shook the whole tree so that the ripe apples would fall down (study the Bible as a whole). Afterwards he would climb up in the tree and shake each branch (study one book in the Bible at a time). Then he would shake the smaller branches one by one (study a chapter at a time). Then he would take each twig (study verses and sentences). At last he would look under each leaf to look for apples (study the words used).

If you want to study the Bible more thoroughly ask your mentor about it and s/he will recommend some books to you, which will help you dig deeper into the word of God.

Exercise:

In which five ways can we appropriate/internalise God’s Word?

Which of these methods do you use most/least?

Why?

What do you get the most benefit from when you read the Bible?

What does it mean to meditate on God’s Word?

Which blessings has God promised those who study His Word?

Take five minutes to meditate on John 3:16 which you learnt by heart yesterday! What comes alive to you or what is God making real to you while meditating on this word?

Congratulations!

Today you have completed the first part of this book, which is also the first part of this course “Finding your place”. By completing these three weeks of study you have shown that you are serious about finding your place in the covenant community and going on to receive everything that Christ has for you! Be sure to get your mentor to sign the verification of completion on the next page. Show this signed document to your cell leader.

You are now ready to proceed with week 4: “Make disciples – be a mentor” or “Finding your place 2 – Build on the Foundation”. This book will provide you with the foundation for the Christian life, - the basics of experiencing Christ. You will benefit a great deal from the teaching in that book and the time you spend with your mentor.

If you choose to skip Week 4 and move directly to Book 2, you may read or study the teaching in Week 4 at anytime when you are ready to help another new believer to grow in Christ through the course “Find your place”. As soon as you have come to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour you can share your faith with others and are supposed to do so. Whenever you want to lead and guide someone in a more structured way by using “Find your place” you should take time to read the rest of this book as you will find practical help in doing this.