Weekend Words

From Amish Peace...

Knowing God's Word

"Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval.  Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15

Many people have a tendency to over-romanticize the Amish.  We appreciate their resiliency and their faith, and some people believe the Amish are better - more righteous - than the rest of us.  But the truth is, the Amish have the same struggles and failings that the rest of us have.  Amish preachers turn to God's Word to bring help and guidance to church members:

Preachers draw on everyday experiences as well as stories from the Bible to convey their messages.  The New Testament is emphasized.  In Amish Grace, authors Kraybill, Nolt and Weaver-Zercher point out that "although Amish preachers recite Old Testament stories in their sermons, all the biblical texts read in Amish church services come from the New Testament," particularly Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as "out of the sixty chapters in the Lancaster Amish lectionary, forty come from the four Gospels."

After preaching concludes (there is typically a shorter sermon, and then a longer one, which runs about an hour), other ministers often add their own commentary or correction.  In this way the Amish service is a collective effort, an idea also supported by the fact that preaching duties rotate among ministers.

To correctly explain the Word of Truth to others, you need to know the word of Truth.  How much time do you spend reading the Bible?  Do you read a Scripture verse here and there, believing it is enough?  Consider trying to read a novel and picking up a paragraph here and there.  You might get to know a bit of the story, but the more you read, the more the story will make sense.

Years ago I felt I needed to read through the entire Bible.  Since then I've done that several times, and each time I gain new understanding.  It's important to spend time in God's word and understand God's story.  Make a commitment to do so.

From Be Still and Know...

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night." - Psalm 1:2

Meditation is defined as "contemplation; reflection; contemplation on sacred matters as a devotional act."

The English word for meditation comes from the Latin word, "meditor," meaning to think over, consider, contemplate, reflect upon.

The source of our meditation is the Word of God.  David said, "O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day" (Psalm 119:97).

Meditation is more than just Bible reading.  It begins with the reading of it but continues in contemplating or considering the truth as revealed in it.  "Thy testimonies are my meditation" (Psalm 119:99).  "I will meditation in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways" (Psalm 119:15).  "Thy servant did meditate in they statutes" (Psalm 119:23).

The Bible gives a direct command to meditate.  Paul said to Timothy, "Meditate upon these things..." (1 Timothy 4:15).

Meditation on God's Word gives spiritual illumination.  "The entrance of thy words giveth light" (Psalm 119:130).  Meditation on God's Word allows the Heavenly light to break in upon our inner darkness.  Only the light of the Word is strong enough to dispel spiritual darkness.

We need to gain knowledge from God's Word, but through meditation on it, it becomes a part of our life.

Meditation is essential for the person God can really use.  When Joshua was to replace Moses as leader of the children of Israel, God said to him, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein" (Joshua 1:8).

George Mueller, the great man of God, said that at first he began his devotional time with prayer.  Then he would read and meditate on God's Word.  Later he discovered that his spiritual life deepened when he reversed the order.  He opened his Bible first, asking God to give him illumination on it.  Then he would read and meditate on it.  And finally he would have his prayer time.  This led him to a greater life in the power of God.

In meditation we bring "... into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5).