Meditation—Work that Results in Obedience

March 6, 2024

I’ve shared a few posts related to birthday gifts my wife has given me over the years. On this particular birthday she bought tickets to the Champion’s Series Tennis Tournament in Charlotte. The day of the tournament had rain and we wondered if they were going to be able to play.

You can see that part of the plan was having ball boys and girls towel the court off.

That wasn’t the only plan. Prior to and during this effort by the ball kids, tournament volunteers spent a long time with tennis court squeegees and blower fans getting most of the surface water off the court.

But still, wiping down a tennis court with a towel seems, well—like a lot of work doesn’t it?

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Sure looks tedious, difficult, and while probably no other practical way to towel-dry a court, all on their knees.

I thought about my time with God while looking at this photo.

Sometimes my time is like using one of the electric blower fans. It’s easy reading. I might be reading for pleasure, or looking over a passage to see how it might relate to another passage. Not that I’m spending no effort, but more like I’ve set up and going along for the ride.

At other times, my reading is like using the tennis court squeegee. When using a tennis court squeegee, you’re most effective when you let the weight of the squeegee and the material of the roller do most of the work. You just walk behind it, letting it soak up water as you push it off the court. I’m doing this kind of reading when I’m researching. I might go from Bible translation to translation and commentary to commentary, comparing what the experts say against what I sense God is telling me. It takes effort, but I’m not overly taxed.

Then there is the reading where I’m like those ballkids drying the court with a towel. At these times, I’m asking God to influence me in a deep, spiritual way, or help me understand how to explain a passage to a small group. I research like before, but with more prayer and spiritual searching. The work can be tedious and difficult. And though I’m not physically on my knees, my heart bows to a sovereign Lord who knows exactly what I need during that time.

God tells us to meditate on His Word. There are several instances where this happens, but I want to share one in particular. After Moses died and Joshua was put in charge of taking the Israelites into the Promised Land, God gave Joshua the directions he needed to follow. He specifically told him to meditate on His Word.

“Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.” (Joshua 1:8, NIV)

Biblical meditation is focused on the Word of God and what it reveals about Him. Meditation in the Bible involves a pondering of God’s Word and a deep reflection upon its truths. Thinking on God’s Word and His character is the focus of meditation, and its goal is obedience.[1]

Meditation takes work and time on our knees, but the results are worth it. It is work that results in obedience.  I pray you are encouraged through your time in God’s Word.

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[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-meditation.html