Monday, 10 December 2007 00:00 | and posted in Spiritual Disciplines
If you are at home look up for a moment - can you see any Bible verses anywhere? A post-it note with a verse on the side of the monitor? No? What about a fridge magnet, a poster, a calendar, eh...your mum's apron? No? Oh well, you just failed the Deuteronomy chapter 6 test (and you didn't even know you were sitting it - harsh!) In this chapter Moses encourages the people of Israel to regularly talk about God's Word, and all He has done for them. He tells them to put it where it couldn't be missed - write it on doorframes, mark it on your clothes...he wanted them to take it seriously. (Don't use marker pens on the doorframes or your clothes without the permission of your parents!)
Why did Moses want the people to do this? Isn't this exactly the sort of brainwashing that Christians get accused of? Hmmm, maybe. However, think about the brainwashing people are confronted with everyday? We see plenty of "doorframes" plastered with ideas and attitudes which are contrary to what God wants for our life. They come in the shape of soaps and movies, song lyrics, adverts and fashions. Many showing a complete disregard for God, or teaching that all religions are right, or that they can choose any path for their lives as long as they are happy.
What can the Christian do in response to this onslaught? We need to make a conscious decision to allow God's word to help us think differently. Here's what Romans 12:2 says: 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.
Paul tells us not to "copy" (it's the same word that you would use for being swept along by the crowd - you can't go the way you want to). Moses knew that the people had to be reminded constantly about who God was and what he had done for them otherwise they would be swept along by ways of thinking and living that were ungodly.
For some people to meditate means emptying your mind - for the Christian it means filling your mind - filling it with good things, filling it with God's way of thinking, filling it with God's way of acting. Maybe it is time for a wee post-it note on your monitor - a verse to meditate on. Memorise it, put up another one, memorise it, speak to God about it - and be transformed!