REVDANS

We apprehend the physical world by exercising the faculties given us for the purpose, and we possess spiritual faculties by means of which we can know God and the spiritual world if we will obey the Spirit’s urge and begin to use them. That a saving work must first be done in the heart is taken for granted here. The spiritual faculties of the unregenerate man lie asleep in his nature, unused and for every purpose dead; that is the stroke which has fallen upon us by sin. They may be quickened to active life again by the operation of the Holy Spirit in regeneration; that is one of the immeasurable benefits which come to us through Christ’s atoning work on the cross. – A. W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, Apprehending God.

John 3:3    Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:5    Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council (verse 1) and a teacher of Israel (verse 10), obviously is a religious man and respects Jesus as a spiritual teacher. However, it becomes evident to the observer that, as Jesus has diagnosed immediately and thus aims at the heart of the matter, Nicodemus is not a spiritual man. At every step he misunderstands the message and confuses the issue.

Now, being born “again” can also be understood as being born from above. But Nicodemus cannot imagine such an odd concept and his question in response lets us know that he is thinking in literal terms of returning to his mother’s womb. When Jesus explains that he is speaking about something that is spiritual, Nicodemus wonders. “How can these things be?” That’s when Jesus bluntly confronts his spiritual ignorance.

The Old Testament, the Scriptures that Nicodemus was supposed to have studied and been able to handle as a teacher of Israel, foretold a time when God would make a new covenant with His people, make them new and place His Spirit in them. Surely, Nicodemus was aware of the work of God’s Spirit in those Scriptures. Surely, he could recall the story of the dry bones in Ezekiel 37, where the Lord raised up those bones, bringing them together to form the structure on which he would place flesh and skin and breathe life into them by His Spirit.

Ezekiel 37:13-14 And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”

God’s presence cannot be comprehended or apprehended by “flesh and blood.” In order to connect with and relate to a spiritual entity, we must have a spiritual awakening. We must be “born again,” “born from above,” “born of the Spirit.” Just like Nicodemus you may be a religious person, an educated scholar, a Bible teacher, a leader by position, but if you have not experienced a spiritual birth, you are still “dead in your trespasses and sin” and in need of a spiritual birth. You will never be able to impress God with your pedigree. A spiritual relationship is what is required. It can’t be bought, it can’t be earned, it is not deserved. It can be received, accepted, embraced.

We ought to be grateful that this exchange was recorded by John because it has brought us the most amazing and beloved verse in all the Bible.

John 3:16    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 15:1-10 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

The last few months of her life my mom was on a respirator. Since she was not strong enough to breathe on her own without its help, staying connected to this device was no option. For a decade before this, she had been using a machine that provided oxygen to her lungs 24/7.

When Jesus used the image of a vine to describe our relationship to Him, he was utilizing a very familiar concept for vineyards were common to Israel and especially to the region around Jerusalem. Further, the vine was an emblem for the nation. Note:

Isaiah 27:6    In days to come Jacob shall take root, Israel shall blossom and put forth shoots and fill the whole world with fruit.

Psalm 80:8-11 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land. The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches. It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River.

Isaiah 5:7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!

The basic message is this: the key to life is remaining connected to the source. When I was a freshman in college, I was given an assignment to write a commentary on a selected passage and I chose this one. Since then, I have returned to this passage many times and, though I see fresh things every time, some remain obvious with the passing of time.

Jesus reminded his disciples that a disconnected branch would wither and die. They were those branches. Now I know that there is argument over what being “cut off” from the vine means. I do not intend to enter that fray. But it is obvious that life and sustenance are connected, and that , in order to be sustained, a flow of nourishment must be maintained.

Jesus has come to “give life”, “abundant life”, “eternal life.” The life that he offers is real life, the only true life there really is. Eternal life is not just life that lasts forever, it describes a quality of life that is heaven-focused and heaven-prepared as well as heaven-bound. Physical life is temporary and fragile. We are here today and gone tomorrow. We are a “vapor” that appears and vanishes and like grass we flourish for a season then wither and die. The Bible is full of these metaphors that remind us of the short duration and temporal nature of physical life.

Eternal life is not bound to this physical body. It is not limited to its temporal duration. It is, for the Christian, life that we have entered into now for we have (possess) eternal life. Forever has begun and physical death has no power over us because, as St. Paul puts it, “for me to live is Christ, to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Death, though still an enemy, no longer holds power over us. Death frees us to someday experience a new body and a new dimension of life we can only imagine now. We live in the light of his love and grace. The dark days of doubt, fear and despair have dissipated as the Sonlight has dispelled them.

“Abide in me” is the concept that reappears in these verses no less than eight times. Lifelessness is barren (no fruit), unproductive (without me you can do nothing), worthless (thrown away and withers), futile (thrown into the fire and burned), and empty (unanswered prayer and no proof of discipleship). Jesus has told this so that “my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” There is joy in knowing that we have “abundant life.” There is joy in knowing that “he will never leave us nor forsake us.” There is joy in knowing “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”

The ESV Study Bible note on John 15:4 states, “Abide in me means to continue in a daily, personal relationship with Jesus, characterized by trust, prayer, obedience (see v. 10), and joy.

How is eternal life maintained? By simply staying connected to Jesus. Relationship is the key. Are you “in Christ”? Do you maintain the vital connection to him that is needed to sustain you, to protect you, to nourish you and to help you? Is he “your go-to guy”? Is he your “all-in-all”? Does the thought of him bring a smile to the lips, a leap in your step, a flutter to your heart, and a calm assurance to your mind? Does he “light up your life”? When you are connected to Christ, he is an integral part of your life. Every thing you do, everywhere you go, everything you say, every part of your life is affected by your relationship to him. He is your constant companion, your friend that is closer than a brother, the one on whom you can rely.

“The proof is in the pudding.” Grandma was right. The evidence that a connection exists between us and Christ is “fruit” (mentioned seven times). Bearing fruit is the result of following Christ (verse 8). It seems that this fruit refers to the product of godly living.

In Matthew 3:8 john tells the Pharisees and Sadducees to “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.” Jesus tells his disciples that they will recognize false prophets by their fruit (either their lifestyle or their teachings or both) in Matthew 7:16-20. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul talks of the fruit of the Spirit, which he defines as virtues of character which are the result of of living in the light in Ephesians 5:9. In Philippians 1:11 he prays that believers will be filled with the “fruit of righteousness.” So, although bearing fruit may refer to influencing others to join the kingdom, the primary emphasis seems focused on a lifestyle that reflects the Christian virtues which testify to a relationship with Christ.

There is an expected progression from fruit to more fruit through the process of pruning (verse 2) and from more fruit to much fruit through the process of answered prayer (verses 7-8).

All of this reveals the genuine nature of your relationship of abiding in Christ. So, are you maintaining your connection to the source?

The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God and the Church is famishing for want of His Presence. The instant cure of most of our religious ills would be to enter the Presence in spiritual experience, to become suddenly aware that we are in God and that God is in us. This would lift us out of our pitiful narrowness and cause our hearts to be enlarged. This would burn away the impurities from our lives as the bugs and fungi were burned away by the fire that dwelt in the bush. A. W. Tozer

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

We are taught in seminary and are reinforced in our study of the Bible and Christian theology to believe, not only in the omnipresence of God – that He is everywhere all the time, but that His special presence is in His people – we who believe and in whom His Spirit dwells (Romans 8:9). This is a blessed truth in Scripture but only an intellectual exercise for many. It MUST become a burning reality in the life of every true believer. The acquisition of this aspiration alone would transform our dull services and listless lives into spiritual powerhouses.

The God who walked with the first couple and communed with them in the Garden in the cool of the evening has become a stranger to us. The same one who instructed Noah in ark-building, met with Abraham under the trees at Mamre, who wrestled with Jacob all night at Peniel, who spoke to Moses from the burning bush and on the smoke-filled mountain, who met with Joshua before he faced Jericho as Commander of the Lord’s army, who encouraged Gideon before he faced the forces of Midean and filled Samson with powerful strength, who filled King Saul so that he prophesied as one of the prophets, who filled King David’s heart with sweet music, who revealed Himself to and through Elijah and Elisha, who opened heaven and allowed Isaiah a glimpse of His glory (need I offer more examples, because I can) is no longer expected to make contact with His people.

The sad reality is that we expect only to affirm the existence of God intellectually and to accept the gospel intellectually. We seem to be content with this level of spirituality and seek only to bolster it with information, facts, and study. Our religious experience is cerebral, and we glory in the fact. There may be those emotional believers who only want a religious high, a religious fix, to make it through another problem, difficulty, disaster, or challenge (or to escape them), but we are better than that. We hold to a rational faith. We want to be moved, but we want our experience to be grounded in a reasonable faith. Now, I am not arguing that this is completely bad. Of course, we need a faith that intellectually satisfying. But to stop there is to limit the depth of that faith.

I plan to explore this topic in greater detail in upcoming posts, but at this point I am wondering……….

Is anyone out there, besides me, longing for more – needing, wanting, and expecting to connect with God on a deeper level?

Psalms 19:11-14 ESV  Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.  (12)  Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.  (13)  Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless, and innocent of great transgression.  (14)  Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

Positive and negative reasons are given for heeding God’s Word. We are warned of the dangers that lurk in the dark shadows of temptation and sin. Warnings are crucial, if we are to avoid danger. Those who resent the warning signs in life or who spurn them are headed for sure disaster.

If we heed His directions, we will find the rewards are both immediate and long-term. Immediately, obedience yields the benefit of a clear conscience and clean life. Over time we begin to realize the value of living God’s way. The fruit of a life right with God is rewarding indeed.

One danger we must not ignore is this: we are not really good at recognizing our own faults. We need the spotlight of God’s Word bringing to light the hidden works of darkness and we need the Spirit of God winnow out our sin. Hidden faults must be brought to light if they are to be addressed.

Presumptuous sins, willful disobedience, premeditated acts of rebellion must also be confronted. There is no freedom while they hold dominion over us. Liberation from the bondage of sin is true freedom. Allowing God’s Word to scrutinize our words and our thoughts will yield the peaceable fruit of a righteous life.

Living a life pleasing to the Lord is the desire of every member of the Fellowship. We know that it is an impossible goal, if we ignore the Word of God. To please Him we must know Him. To know Him we must know what He tells us about Himself, ourselves, and how to please Him.

Psalms 19:10 ESV  More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

The Word of God will have a place in your life in proportion to the value you place on it. It is very clear that we need the very words of God in our life. Jesus repeated the law’s evaluation: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4; Deuteronomy 8:3).

Consider the following:

Psalms 119:14 ESV  In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

Psalms 119:72 ESV  The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Psalms 119:127 ESV  Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold.

Psalms 119:162 ESV  I rejoice at your word like one who finds great spoil.

How much do you value God’s Word in your life? What are the indicators that show how much you value it?

Psalms 19:7-9 ESV  The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;  (8)  the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;  (9)  the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

There are two witnesses: the world and the Word, the sky and the Scriptures.

In the second half of Psalm 19, we see the second witness described in detail and beauty. Each phrase tells us something important about the Word. It is called law, testimony, precepts, commandment, fear, and rules. These names give a glimmer of the glory of the Word. Adjectives are attached to each name: perfect, sure, right, pure, clean and true. These add to the shine of the jewel. Following each adjective is a phrase describing the purpose of the Word: reviving the soul, making wise the simple, rejoicing the heart, enlightening the eyes, enduring forever, and are righteous altogether. Collectively, we have a glorious description that is both beautiful and instructive.

Far too long the Word has been seen and presented as restrictive, dull, constraining, repressive, antiquated, and repulsive to modern thinking. The only way to recover our faith in the Lord, our confidence in His ways and our willingness to obey is to regain an appreciation for His Word. He has spoken and we must pay attention.

So, what is His Word to us?

It is law, His revealed will, TORAH, which directs, informs, instructs. The word can be used to refer to the shooting of an arrow. That law is perfect: full, complete and right. Like an arrow it strikes home. Refusal to embrace the “Instruction Manual” for life from its Designer can have devastating results. We need to know what His will is because it “revives the soul.” One might describe the result of the law as “spiritual recovery.” If we ignore the Doctor’s prescriptions, we cannot expect to recover.

It is His testimony, His witness, to His love, His covenantal faithfulness, His ways, His plan of salvation. This witness is “sure” or trustworthy. You can count on it. It leads us out of our childishness to spiritual wisdom or maturity (see Proverbs 1:4 and Psalm 119:98-100).

It is precepts, or principles, for living. His principles are right, and when followed, they bring rejoicing to our inner life (where we can experience joy, peace, and contentment).

It is commands. God has told us what we must do and He, being our Creator, has the authority to tell us what to do. Sadly, some see His commands as repulsive or restrictive, but they are “pure” and only point us to life, health and peace. Resentment of His commands will prevent us from realizing His purposes, but when we appreciate them, our eyes are “opened” to the truth and beneficial nature of His instructions.

It is fear, a key component of reverence or respect. Fear has been downplayed in recent times, because we are afraid that we will miscommunicate who God is. However, fear is a vital component of respect. I loved my parents and never feared that they would try to hurt me. But I also feared hurting them and losing their trust. The fear of the Lord sums up what the law required (see Psalm 15, especially verse 4). We show honor and respect for God when we order our lives in alignment with His will. Our reverence will result in clean living, because when we do what is right in God’s sight, we will never regret that decision. Not only will we not disappoint God, we will not bring disrepute into our lives.

It is judgments, and it serves as both a measure for righteous behavior and a mirror revealing our shortcomings. His evaluation is right and true. His standards stand across time and cultures. He doesn’t change His expectations. We will not be able to bring an argument against Him. All must someday submit to His judgment.

God’s Word is adequate, accurate and authoritative. Why do we want to question Him, to accuse Him, to reject Him? He has spoken and we must either respond or refuse.

Those whose hearts are open to God will learn to accept, appreciate and adopt His Word.

Psalms 1:4-6 ESV  The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.  (5)  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;  (6)  for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

A voice is saying to you, “What’s the big deal?” “Why do I need to listen to the Word?” “What it says is too demanding, too extreme, too uncomfortable!” “I can get by without obedience, rules, restrictions!” “Why should my fortunes in life be limited by such narrow-minded religious bigotry?”

So what is the alternative to obedience to the Word?

The alternative is to live without God, outside of fellowship with him and his people, in disobedience and rebellion. It is to live outside the benefit of his will, the protection of his power, the hope of his promise. No hope, no help, no hiding. Sadly, many will not stop long enough to realize the condition of which I speak.

Not so the wicked! They are not like the tree rooted by the streams of water. They are not nourished or stable. They are like the worthless chaff – husks that, when separated from the grain, blow away in the wind. Adam Clarke, the scholarly Methodist commentator, describes them this way:

An ungodly man is never steady; his purposes are abortive; his conversation light, trifling, and foolish; his professions, friendships, etc., frothy, hollow, and insincere; and both he and his works are carried away to destruction by the wind of God’s judgments.

It is no wonder the psalmist says that the wicked will not stand in the judgment. How can they stand up to such scrutiny? They won’t have “a leg to stand on.” They can’t stand in the company of the righteous, who have placed their trust in the Lord. They are unworthy of such a company, although they had been given the invitation to join them. Like so many, they refused the invitation. They will have no excuse or defense for rejecting God in that day of judgment.

Psalms 35:5 ESV  Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away!

Isaiah 17:13 ESV  The nations roar like the roaring of many waters, but he will rebuke them, and they will flee far away, chased like chaff on the mountains before the wind and whirling dust before the storm.

Isaiah 29:5 ESV  But the multitude of your foreign foes shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the ruthless like passing chaff.

Hosea 13:3 ESV  Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes early away, like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window.

Matthew 3:12 ESV  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Why would anyone want to face divine justice and justifiable wrath? Why would anyone refuse the grace of God that leads to salvation? The burden of an obedient life is no burden, when one considers the wisdom of the commands, the blessed results of obeying, the joy in pleasing our heavenly Father. Mark the end (the final destination) of the righteous person (the one who is right with God).

The Lord “knows the way” of the righteous. It’s not just that he is aware of their doings and goings; he also “watches over” them. He is their defense, their shield, their mainstay, their strong tower, their anchor. The “way” they live determines the “way” they pursue and that “way” becomes their destination.

We must choose a “way” to travel in life and each alternative has its own consequences and destination. As Robert Frost writes in his poem, The Road Less Traveled,

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

It is not which way is the easiest, fastest, smoothest, most popular or offers the most amenities. I grew up in the backwoods of Arkansas with dirt roads and potholes. We never talked about the comfort of the roads. We just knew that this is the one we needed to take to get to the destination. It is this simple: Does this way lead to where I want to go? The other considerations are incidental. In choosing a way, the destination is crucial, it is everything. So, which way have you chosen? It does make ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

Psalms 1:3 ESV  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 ESV  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.  (8)  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

When I worked at a former institution, I was privileged to have an office in a mansion built in the early 1900s. Thirteen unique fireplaces filled the rooms. Surrounding the building were large and stately oaks with Spanish moss hanging from their limbs. It was truly an inspiring sight to behold.

In Palestine during the days of the Patriarchs trees were especially important. They were a source of shade, as when Abraham met with visitors under its shade, and they were a source of fruit. Just as trees need nourishment and water, so we need these as well.

A tree planted by streams of water would have all the nourishment necessary to flourish. It need not face the withering associated with a barren wilderness without resources to sustain it. Those who trust in the Lord have all they need, not only to survive, but to thrive.

I think of Jesus telling his disciples that if they would seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, they would find the necessities of life, such as food and clothing, provided. A tree, under such conditions, need never fear a lack, and disciples who trust need never fear they will be forsaken.

A tree planted or rooted firmly in the ground speaks volumes about the stability one would expect of such a tree. Paul tells the Ephesian believers that they should allow God’s plan for the edification of the church to prepare them to become mature:

Ephesians 4:14-15 ESV  so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.  (15)  Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,

Although the type of fruit is not identified in the psalm, when Jesus spoke of himself as the vine and his followers as the branches, he alludes to two types of fruit, as elsewhere. The first is the fruit of a life of righteousness (a life right with God) and the fruit of adding more disciples who will become followers.

My dad loved farming. He delighted in planting, cultivating, and harvesting various crops. He never had much appreciation for plants that existed to add beauty to a scene. He worked because he wanted to produce fruit for his labors, and he EXPECTED fruit. Just like Jesus, who cursed the fig tree for lack of fruit and it withered, he would curse and plow under plants that were barren or fruitless. A tree planted by streams of water that receives the nourishment needed to bear fruit has no excuse to remain barren. It will bear fruit. And so the question presents itself:

Are you a disciple nourished by the Word of God? The evidence will be FRUIT!

Psalms 1:2 ESV  but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Dear Fellowship of the Burning Heart:

When we talk about meditation, people often confuse what we mean with what they have observed in the world. The meditation that is primarily for relaxation and is designed to empty the mind of thoughts and worries is not what we have in mind. Christian meditation is not emptying the mind of debilitating thoughts; it is filling the mind with the Word of God.

I mentioned in an earlier posting that God and I have a running conversation throughout the day. Now, I don’t mean that we talk nonstop. Instead, I would describe it as the same thing that would take place in any relationship. My wife and I sit in the same room in the evening. We are involved in separate activities, but as the desire or need arises, we will converse. Our encounters might consist of a few short sentences, or might launch us into a heated discussion or a long casual conversation.

Now imagine that you had the opportunity to view a conversation between me and my wife, but for some reason, you were unable to see or hear her. It would appear to you that I was talking to myself. It might be possible to follow the conversation and pick up what was being discussed, but you would only hear my side of the discussion. When I was reading Psalm 1 on one occasion, I noticed in the center column of my study Bible a reference to the word “meditate.” It gave an alternate reading: “ponders by talking to himself.” I then looked up the Hebrew word and it means “to murmur or mutter.”

I like that way of describing meditation. I am having a conversation with God about a particular subject and it appears that I am talking to myself. I am asking myself what he has said about it, what I think about what he has said about it, why he might have said it, what I need to understand about the subject, etc. I am exploring God’s Word in my mind. I am looking at it as I would a multi-faced diamond or intricate design. I want to fully understand what I am observing. I am listening to hear what God is saying to me in his Word.

I believe that is what Christian meditation should involve. Although I don’t read the Bible for hours on end or involve myself in reading passages throughout the day (I am, after all, a bi-vocational pastor who has to focus on a secular job). I do, however, focus on a passage and meditate on it throughout the day. Sometimes, God and I have a heated discussion, where I am wrestling to understand the Word or figure out its application to my need or circumstance. I also have long times of conversation with God through his Word, but these are less frequent than I would like.

When I was growing up on the farm, I observed our cattle chewing their cud. My dad explained that they would graze, and then, at a later point, regurgitate and chew up their food to prepare it for digestion. To “chew the cud” or “chew on something” has come to mean to meditate, ponder, or ruminate.

We are told in Psalm 1 to “chew on” the Word day and night. Consistently, persistently, and continually, we can recall and meditate on the Word of God. Are you “chewing” on the Word?

Jeremiah 15:16 ESV  Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.