Daily Journal: 10 October

The Role of Contemplation

The bible is full of writings to ponder and contemplate. When we spend time reading it as part of our daily activity and spiritual food, taking time to contemplate, it helps us to receive and absorb God’s heart and gives us understanding.

The role of contemplation in God's Word, prevents our propensity towards self-absorption. As we receive and absorb God’s heart, we understand why the bible says what it says; we understand God’s nature and how moulding ourselves to His nature builds our character into His likeness so that we are protected from corruption, grounded, and can fulfil the desires and the destiny He created us for before we were even created. This is the role of contemplation.

Contemplation is part of meditation. Christian meditation is not syphoning out thought and emptying our mind as other meditations teach. Emptying our minds allows anything to fill it without invitation or consent. The role of contemplation and Christian meditation causes us to choose what we think on, what we absorb, and how we are shaped.

The role of contemplation fills our minds with the living, active Word of God, receiving it, reflecting on it, absorbing it’s meaning and shaping our world view so that we sift the world’s ways out and allow God’s ways in.

Jude 20-23 (TLB)

But you, dear friends, must build up your lives ever more strongly upon the foundation of our holy faith, learning to pray in the power and strength of the Holy Spirit. Stay always within the boundaries where God’s love can reach and bless you. Wait patiently for the eternal life that our Lord Jesus Christ in his mercy is going to give you. Try to help those who argue against you. Be merciful to those who doubt. Save some by snatching them as from the very flames of hell itself. And as for others, help them to find the Lord by being kind to them, but be careful that you yourselves aren’t pulled along into their sins. Hate every trace of their sin while being merciful to them as sinners.

Contemplation on this scripture leads us to the reminder of John 3:16 that God loved the world so much that He sent His only son Jesus to die for our sin and give us everlasting life with Him. Because of His mercy He doesn’t want us to fall into sin that leads to hell, a place of everlasting torment. He wants us to help save others but be careful that as we try to help others we don’t become influenced by their sin.

Contemplation on this scripture leads us to recognise how much God hates sin but loves the sinner and we have to be careful to do the same. God does not tolerate sin, and nor should we. But He loves the soul of the sinner, and so should we. We are to be merciful, helpful, considered, kind, careful, wise and just – these are all traits of God’s character that we can read in this scripture as we contemplate its meaning for us, how we should apply it to our lives and the shaping of our character.

Romans 12:2 (NLT)

Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.

Jude finishes his one-chapter book with one of the most beautiful blessings in the bible.

Jude 24-25 (NASB)

Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority before all time and now and forever. Amen.