Friday, September 30, 2011

a practical way to reflect on the bible…

james gives us three practical ways to reflect on the word of GOD…

the first one is to read it.   james 1.25 (niv), the man who looks intently into the perfect law.  he’s actually talking more about research than he is reading.  investigating.  the word look in greek means “to stoop down and gaze in”.  it’s the word used when peter went to the tomb on resurrection sunday when he stooped down and peeked in.  he investigated.  focus your attention on the word of GOD. 

there are two ways you can look at a mirror.  you can gaze at it or you can glance at it.  all of us have done both.  it’s human nature that you can’t walk by a mirror and not look at it.  when you glance at it, you immediately walk away and forget what you’ve seen.  it didn’t do you any good.  many people try to have a quiet time that way.  they don’t want to gaze at it, but glance at it.  give GOD five minutes.  GOD says that HE wants us to gaze at the word.  look at it intently in detail.

nine things to look for --  s.p.a.c.e.p.e.t.s (you can add these to your notes)

       s - is there a sin to confess?

       p - is there a promise to claim?  look for promises, there are over 7000 promises in the                         word of GOD.

       a - is there an attitude to change?

       c - is there a command to obey?

       e - is there an example to follow?

       p - is there a prayer to pray?  there are lots of prayers in the bible.  you can take those prayers and pray them for yourself and for others.  you can know they’ll be answered because they’re in the word of GOD.

       e - is there an error to avoid? 

       t - is there a truth to believe?  is there something i just need to believe GOD for?

       s - is there something to thank GOD for?

that’s how you look intently at the word of GOD.  look at the details.  james says we need to receive the word of GOD and then reflect on it, first by reading it.

just a thought from the front porch…

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