Ponder

"But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart." Luke 2:19

In the opening session of my summer Bible study, the leader stated, "We should spend 50% of our time reading the Bible in meditative reading. Stop, listen, consider, and pray." What a challenge!


Romans 11:3 states, "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!" Humans' finite reasoning makes it impossible to unlock the mysteries of Scripture. Without the Holy Spirit, searching and convicting hearts, it is impossible to appropriately apply the Law and Gospel to one's personal life.


Thankfully, Jesus promised the Father would send us a Helper, Holy Spirit to "...teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I [Jesus] have said to you," John 14:26. God has placed the greatest personal interpreter within His children! They need only appeal the Helper for guidance.


How then can Believers have a Mary-like heart, treasuring and pondering the treasures of Scripture? Firstly, personal devotions should be more than reading a few chapters in the Bible every day--Christians must read meditatively--stop, listen, consider, pray. Secondly, the Holy Spirit must be entreated to "guide you into all truth" (John 16:13). Thirdly, the "active, living Word of God" should be pondered (studied,  memorized, meditated on, prayed through, and discussed). These 'skills' will mature throughout the life of a Believer.


Next Saturday, we will take a closer look at specific ways to ready meditatively. Until then... daily seek to treasure and ponder the Word of God.