This morning at church we did a little something different at the end of service. One of our pastors taught us about one method of reading the Bible. I loved the simplicity and depth of this method called Lectio Divina (divine reading) and wanted to share it with you.
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| Image by: Eugenio Hansen, OFS |
There are 4 steps:
1) Reading (Take your time)
2) Meditation (Think on something that He is showing you: could be just a word)
3) Prayer (How is what you are showing me apply right now?)
4) Contemplation (Thank Him, sit and rest in His presence)
Before you begin, pray that God would reveal something to you as you read. This isn't about studying, it's about reading and thinking on the living word of God and communing with Him while doing so.
Below is what came to my heart in church this morning when I tried this out. Give this method of enjoying God's word a try. The method is simple, yet intimate, and it doesn't take long. I'd love to hear how God communes with you, so email me if you'd like to share! Click here to email me!
Lectio Divina: Matthew 22:34-40
1) As I was reading, the word "silenced" stood out to me in verse 34. Jesus had silenced the Sadducees.
2) I meditated on this word "silenced". I felt peace in that Jesus could silence people. People meaning critics, doubters, testers. They were the ones who questioned him the most.
3) I then prayed and asked God to show me how this applies right now.
4) I contemplated that Jesus had the ability to silence his critics with the truth and he still is capable of doing that in my life today. I looked at the scripture again to see how Jesus responded to these people. His answer was to love God and your neighbor, but I saw something even more simple.
Jesus answered their question directly, and even though they couldn't see it, he had given them the foundation on which to ask all the other questions. His response to them was about love.
Jesus gave them an answer to think about it, but what He really was trying to show them was that without love at the beginning, in the foundation, all their questions would be the wrong ones. He responded to their need, not their question. And yet they couldn't see it.
I sat there and thanked God that He is the God who answers questions, but even more so He responds to our need for Him and who He is.
I have needed someone lately to silence the ones who constantly seem to think we need reminding of the uncertainties in our life. This morning, in those few minutes it took to try out this method of "Lectio Divina", I heard only one voice and it was love.
This love whispered to my bruised heart that I have been asking the right questions and that is where my certainty and peace is found. His truth, His heart, His response, HIS LOVE.
1 Peter 1: 6-8 (in first person)
In this I rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, I have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of my faith - more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire - may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though I have not seen him, I love him. Though I do not now see him, I believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory."
silence =
ReplyDeletethe state of keeping or being still or mute,
entire absence of speech, sound, or other noise
general stillness,
to cause to be still by force,
to quiet,
to stop activity
*in music, a rest
*in military, to cause to cease firing, especially by effective fire, as to silence the enemy
Aimee, thank you for sharing! I love doing word studies from my grandpa's old dictionary, the Winston College Edition printed in 1946. So I wanted to share what it had to say about silence. :) I love the last military part in particular because I think it touches on exactly what you described in Jesus silencing the Sadducees. Happy Monday!
~Cassie