After working for this DIVER, and SWORD for almost a year now i start to realize the importance of dsily devotion for Christian spiritual life. The essence of spending time with God and His word is not so much about the method, but the reason. Paslm 1 gave me that importance furthermore with the understanding of "tree that is planted by the water" for it is a continual flow that made it possible. Its the essence of flow, and presence of God in devotion that will make the tree grows.
Whatever method we use to make it happen, unless we understand the rason behind it then it wont be a devotion, but rather just a religious activity. The spiritual essence of it is carried away by the routine of it, and the nature of human task fulfilling mentality.
Deep spiritual understanding will come when we know what we do is because why we do.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Psalm 1:3-5
Search and Select The Passage
Psalm 1:3-5
Watch The Context
The writer of the Psalm wants to compare the life and walk of believers and sinners
Observe The Word:
"the LORD wathces" - the importance of presence.God's presence is the main differences between righteous and "sinner" (please take note that i am using the term sinner in the context of the Psalm and not as stereotyping any particular people)
Reflect on the Message:
The LORD watches the path of the righteous: the expression that is placed here is a wonderful assurance for me in the wy i live day by day. It gives me that hope of God's presence that is ACTIVELY there through my life. It means, i am important. Not so much because of who i am, but because of who He is as a God.
Develop a new pat of Grace
LORD, help me to walk in your path of righteousness, walk and lead my way. For i have put my trust in you.
Psalm 1:3-5
Watch The Context
The writer of the Psalm wants to compare the life and walk of believers and sinners
Observe The Word:
"the LORD wathces" - the importance of presence.God's presence is the main differences between righteous and "sinner" (please take note that i am using the term sinner in the context of the Psalm and not as stereotyping any particular people)
Reflect on the Message:
The LORD watches the path of the righteous: the expression that is placed here is a wonderful assurance for me in the wy i live day by day. It gives me that hope of God's presence that is ACTIVELY there through my life. It means, i am important. Not so much because of who i am, but because of who He is as a God.
Develop a new pat of Grace
LORD, help me to walk in your path of righteousness, walk and lead my way. For i have put my trust in you.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Psalm 1:3
Search and Select the Word
Psalm 1:3
Watch the Context
David was talking about the beauty of thise who finds delight in obeying and meditating the word
Observe the word:
An expression of tree planted by the water - the continual love and fulfilment of God's providence.
Reflect into the Word:
Have i sreally spent the time in my life fully immersed in the continual love and providence of God in His law and words?
Develop a new walk in Grace:
The beauty of relationship with God lkes on the beauty of obedience and meditation of His word
Psalm 1:3
Watch the Context
David was talking about the beauty of thise who finds delight in obeying and meditating the word
Observe the word:
An expression of tree planted by the water - the continual love and fulfilment of God's providence.
Reflect into the Word:
Have i sreally spent the time in my life fully immersed in the continual love and providence of God in His law and words?
Develop a new walk in Grace:
The beauty of relationship with God lkes on the beauty of obedience and meditation of His word
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Psalm 1:1
Search and Select the passage
Pasalm 1:1
Watch the context:
This verse is part of David's songs as reminder that our true refuge is God alone
Observe the Word:
Walk, stand, sit - the whole process of man in old testament time. Means the person full conscience is not driven by wickedness and sin
Reflect the message:
How do i walk with the wicked - in following their path? What is their path? If Jesus say that it is the wide path, that means all the desire of the world: fame, fortune, possesion, and self. Have my life been focused on all this path that leads to condemnation?
How do i stand with the sinners? - through my alegiance? Through my personal way of living?
How do i sit the mockers? Thru the word that comes out from my mouth?
Develop A New Walk in Grace:
Guard my Path O LORD, Keep my stand, wacth my mouth so i may not sin against You.
Pasalm 1:1
Watch the context:
This verse is part of David's songs as reminder that our true refuge is God alone
Observe the Word:
Walk, stand, sit - the whole process of man in old testament time. Means the person full conscience is not driven by wickedness and sin
Reflect the message:
How do i walk with the wicked - in following their path? What is their path? If Jesus say that it is the wide path, that means all the desire of the world: fame, fortune, possesion, and self. Have my life been focused on all this path that leads to condemnation?
How do i stand with the sinners? - through my alegiance? Through my personal way of living?
How do i sit the mockers? Thru the word that comes out from my mouth?
Develop A New Walk in Grace:
Guard my Path O LORD, Keep my stand, wacth my mouth so i may not sin against You.
The Lesson from David's Psalm
I have spent the last 2 weeks of my devotional time looking at psalm and try to grab the meat of this great "hymn" compilation in which most songs and poems are colected. The first 6 chapter of it had brought me to understand the honesty, yet real spirituality of the person who write the songs. Interesting enough, Jesus quote the book of Psalm more than any other book in the Bible. That means not only Jesus "like" the book of Psalm He also spend His time on each songs known to his generation. As we going to explore the book furthermore, let us conwider the beauty of it through our personal experience of our own
Thursday, April 21, 2011
SWORD Moving to a new Stage
This is another week i come to approach to SWORD in another way.
Rather than picking up a Verse, i try to read the Whole Chapter/Passage as a complete story. These are the things that i find and learn:
1.Context is indeed extremely important. One verse might can tell you something, but it is the context that put "truth" in the whole message. God's truth is constructed in a way that in not placed in one piece of message, but rather pieces of puzzle that need to be arranged with each other.
2. I read the book of Psalm, Bible is an emotionally real book. They are honest with who they are, and that it makes them real with God. Often time our approach to Bible is very rigid, in what i call as "thinking theology". Truth become an "idea" not a life that we lived driven by feeling and principle. Too bad
This is the things i learned from this week experience. Next week, i will start to try to do SWORD for the first 4 Songs of Psalm
Cheers!
Rather than picking up a Verse, i try to read the Whole Chapter/Passage as a complete story. These are the things that i find and learn:
1.Context is indeed extremely important. One verse might can tell you something, but it is the context that put "truth" in the whole message. God's truth is constructed in a way that in not placed in one piece of message, but rather pieces of puzzle that need to be arranged with each other.
2. I read the book of Psalm, Bible is an emotionally real book. They are honest with who they are, and that it makes them real with God. Often time our approach to Bible is very rigid, in what i call as "thinking theology". Truth become an "idea" not a life that we lived driven by feeling and principle. Too bad
This is the things i learned from this week experience. Next week, i will start to try to do SWORD for the first 4 Songs of Psalm
Cheers!
Monday, April 11, 2011
The Importance of Repetition
If you notice this previous few days there is no new devotional that has been developed. It is because of certain things that happened in the process of developing this SWORD method.
However, i found an interesting point. That devotional, Doesn't always means new things everyday. Sometimes a lesson from the bible can be meditated for the whole week for the impact can been engraved in our mind.
That is what happened this week. I focused on Psalm 1 and by this week, it was deeply engraved in me that i felt refreshed just to meditate on that songs again and again. The delight is clear, that blessing come from obeying the commandment, and meditate the word day and night and that is the point that i have left on the daily SWORD journal. The continual part of meditation.
Well, this is a new light and hopefully God will continue to help me in finding this new walk in SWORD.
However, i found an interesting point. That devotional, Doesn't always means new things everyday. Sometimes a lesson from the bible can be meditated for the whole week for the impact can been engraved in our mind.
That is what happened this week. I focused on Psalm 1 and by this week, it was deeply engraved in me that i felt refreshed just to meditate on that songs again and again. The delight is clear, that blessing come from obeying the commandment, and meditate the word day and night and that is the point that i have left on the daily SWORD journal. The continual part of meditation.
Well, this is a new light and hopefully God will continue to help me in finding this new walk in SWORD.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Meditate Upon The Word
Psalm 1:2
Strenght lies from obedience and meditating upon His word. In the comtext of Pslam 1:2 it gives us strenght to grow, and lead us to righteousness. This is a humbling leson for me in learning. and understanding God. The question that i really asked myself is, do i really have spend enough time for prayer and meditation? Have i heard His voice and listen to His calling? His guidance?
Strenght lies from obedience and meditating upon His word. In the comtext of Pslam 1:2 it gives us strenght to grow, and lead us to righteousness. This is a humbling leson for me in learning. and understanding God. The question that i really asked myself is, do i really have spend enough time for prayer and meditation? Have i heard His voice and listen to His calling? His guidance?
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
The Beauty of Soul Searching
Psalm 139:23-24
David is well known for his honesty with God and others. Now, when the bible talk about honesty of David, it's not so much in ethical form but rather as his real expression of what inside him with God. Now in the situation of apsalm 139, David was surrounded with enemies. Yet,his prayer was real that God Ned to search him first in order for Him to work in David's life.
This is the great question that often make me ponder, do I ever asked God to really search me inside? As far as I think not yet. I never asked to reveal my true feeling, and ask Him to help me integrate my feeling to something in can cognize. David was different, he clealy ask God to reveal his anxious feeling and ask God to help him grow from there.
Today I was reminded again, that unless I really honest with God just like what David did, then probably I am still playing God. Unless, I am completely willing to allow him to do the scanning on me, then I will not be true to what He has plan me to be.
David is well known for his honesty with God and others. Now, when the bible talk about honesty of David, it's not so much in ethical form but rather as his real expression of what inside him with God. Now in the situation of apsalm 139, David was surrounded with enemies. Yet,his prayer was real that God Ned to search him first in order for Him to work in David's life.
This is the great question that often make me ponder, do I ever asked God to really search me inside? As far as I think not yet. I never asked to reveal my true feeling, and ask Him to help me integrate my feeling to something in can cognize. David was different, he clealy ask God to reveal his anxious feeling and ask God to help him grow from there.
Today I was reminded again, that unless I really honest with God just like what David did, then probably I am still playing God. Unless, I am completely willing to allow him to do the scanning on me, then I will not be true to what He has plan me to be.
Application Process for Sword
Starting today, I will try to construc SWORD in devotional mode, for the integration of all the part into devotional reading. It will me to see whether the devotion is too technical or too rigid. I am glad that I can find the way to practice this SWORD in this platform.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Joshua 1:9
Search and Select the Passage
Joshua 1:9
Watch the Context
Joshua was given the command from God to continue what Moses had done so far with the Israelites, to lead them to the promise land
Observe the Word
Strong - Sign of ability to do things, but the strength here was from God
Courage - Ability to overcome fear
Reflect the Message:
Challenge will always exist in every part of life, God's calling is not for smooth road but rather strength and courage in the time of challenge
Develop The Message:
Keyword: STRONG and COURAGEOUS
Simple, Be strong and Be Courageous like what the Text Says =)
Joshua 1:9
Watch the Context
Joshua was given the command from God to continue what Moses had done so far with the Israelites, to lead them to the promise land
Observe the Word
Strong - Sign of ability to do things, but the strength here was from God
Courage - Ability to overcome fear
Reflect the Message:
Challenge will always exist in every part of life, God's calling is not for smooth road but rather strength and courage in the time of challenge
Develop The Message:
Keyword: STRONG and COURAGEOUS
Simple, Be strong and Be Courageous like what the Text Says =)
Saturday, April 2, 2011
2 Chronicles 7.14
Search. And select the passage
2 Chronicles 7:14
Watch the context
The story is part of God's answer to Solomon and his prayer. God gave the assurance to Solomon tha He is a faithful God who are able to provide all the things that Solomon needed according to His will
Observe the word:
If my people - condition in which human has the opportunity to make a decision
Humble themselves - withouth acknowledging God as their true God and saviour, then it is almost impossible to accept God
Reflect the message
Have ibeen humble enough to God and ask for His guidance? Have I called His name and pray? Have I turned from my wicked way and surrender my life to the power of God?
Develop the new walk with God:
Keyword:HUMILITY and PRAYER
I should humble myself and ask God for His guidance
2 Chronicles 7:14
Watch the context
The story is part of God's answer to Solomon and his prayer. God gave the assurance to Solomon tha He is a faithful God who are able to provide all the things that Solomon needed according to His will
Observe the word:
If my people - condition in which human has the opportunity to make a decision
Humble themselves - withouth acknowledging God as their true God and saviour, then it is almost impossible to accept God
Reflect the message
Have ibeen humble enough to God and ask for His guidance? Have I called His name and pray? Have I turned from my wicked way and surrender my life to the power of God?
Develop the new walk with God:
Keyword:HUMILITY and PRAYER
I should humble myself and ask God for His guidance
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)