"Taste and see that the LORD is good" ~Psalm 34:8
"The written word of God describes itself less as something to be studied objectively; than as something to be experienced subjectively. Tasted. Savored. Absorbed into our very beings." -Pete Greig In Pete Greig's third lesson from The Lectio, he teaches about meditating on the word of God. If we are to truly absorb the word of God into our lives, we have to go beyond simply reading it. He offers three keys to Biblical meditation:
Interruption: We must "slow down our intellectual metabolism." -Michael Casey.
Anyone can quickly get through a chapter, but what if you allowed yourself to be interrupted by a particular word or phrase and take the time to ponder on its meaning and learn the perspective of contemporary and ancient Church thinkers?
Intuition: When we're "interrupted" in our reading, a train of thought will be triggered, leading us into fresh revelation and more profound prayer times.
Imagination: When we read a novel or watch a movie, we unlock our imagination to critically think and enjoy a deeper experience. Why do we switch it off with the greatest story ever told? There's a potential fear that if we let our imagination into our time with Scripture, we're not honoring His word. Remember, "whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" ( 1 Cor 10:31). God gave us a mind which we should use it to its fullest extent. Greig suggests engaging all of your senses while reading a passage. Imagine the sounds, tastes, smells, sights, and touches of what's happening. When Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, how did the donkey smell? What does the sky look like? Can you hear the cows treading on their hoofs in the distance and feel the warm sun coming down onto the dirt road? This is a "beautiful way to bring an overly familiar story to life."
Jesus tells Satan, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” He's referencing Deuteronomy 8:3: "He humbled you, and in your hunger He gave you manna to eat, which neither you nor your fathers had known, so that you might understand that man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD." Hunger, food, and eating are literally equated with the word that comes from God's mouth. Moses is not being figurative, and neither is Jesus. Satan tempts us to taste in order to satisfy our earthly hunger. Christ offers us to taste, be filled, and never go hungry; one opportunity is by meditating on his Word. Are you holding the Bible at arm's length, treating it like any other book to be studied, or are you actually absorbing the Word into your daily habits, which gradually transform how you live?
Always improve the present moment.
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