Reflect and Receive Insight

2 Timothy 2:1-7 ends with Paul’s instruction to “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” I want to spend a little time talking about how important it is that we do this. 

So often I will hear a good sermon or read a great passage and then as I am leaving the church it seems like the words decide to stay there.  It isn’t my intent but it’s as though my brain sometimes says that contemplative Christian thought belongs in the church and not outside of it.  In response to this many pastors will encourage their congregations to dwell on the words they read as they go about their normal week.

The idea of dwelling is the one that I want to look at a little closer today.  It means to “Live in a particular place” and that definitely works for how we should handle the scriptures we study.  We should be living in them.  And when I think of living, I think of being involved with and working on.  If I live in my house there is work that needs to be done throughout the week.  I spend time, cooking, cleaning, and right now, painting.  I don’t live in my house if I visit it or hear about it once a week. 

Paul tells Timothy the spend time dwelling on the words he has just said in verses 1-6.  Work at them, spend time with them, and in this case receive insight into them.  There is an exciting aspect of our relationship with the words in the Bible.  For one, the Bible itself is living and active, the written word of a very personal God.  It can be a conversation as we hear from God and answer back through prayer.  We also have the Holy Spirit to help guide us as we dwell on God’s words.  This makes our time so much more profitable as we not only read but also hear from Him. 

Dear God, please help me to spend time reflecting on your words throughout my week.  Holy Spirit please guide my thoughts as I study.  Thank you for promising to give insight into your truth.

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Josh Earhart

About the Author:
Josh serves on staff at Westchester as Associate Pastor of Student Ministries