Monday, February 04, 2013

Ephesians 3:14-21 as a Spiritual Exercise: #2

La Jolla, California

This coming Sunday I'm preaching out of Ephesians 3:14-21. Whenever I preach I carry the text with me throughout the week. Often, I write it on a 3X5 card, or print it out. I pull it out often and read it. And meditate on the text.

Meditate on these words this week:


14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

When God speaks to you as you meditate on this text, write it down in your spiritual journal.

What is biblical meditation?

Biblical meditation is: taking a piece of Scripture, or a truth of God, and slow-cooking in it. Chew on the text. Ruminate. Some compare biblical meditation to a cow chewing its cud. As we repeat the scriptures over and over and over in our minds, the Spirit of God causes them to descend into our hearts. At that point they become us; viz., the words, like food, get assimilated into our bodies.

How do I meditate on Scripture?

I repeat the text, sometimes reading it out loud, over and over and over again. It is common, while doing this, that God speaks to me through the text. At that point I'll write it down so as to remember it.