Contemplative
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. ––Joshua 1:8, NKJV
1 a: concentration on spiritual things as a form of private devotion
b: a state of mystical awareness of God’s being
The word “meditation” has been a part of biblical Christianity for millennia, but at times gets hijacked by weird spiritual practices. Webster’s says it’s “a discourse intended to express its author’s reflections or to guide others in contemplation.” To dwell on God’s Word and ponder its significance is to meditate on it. The psalms talk a lot about meditation. For example: “My mouth will speak words of wisdom; the meditation of my heart will give you understanding” (Psalm 49:3).
Meditation’s corollary, contemplation, also gets a bad rap. To say you are a contemplative Christian might raise some eyebrows: “Is that person living in a tent in the desert?” To be contemplative simply means to focus on the Father and His Word in “private devotion,” or to be in “a state of mystical awareness of God’s being.” For God’s men, mystical—another misunderstood word—does not mean you follow Gandalf the White or live at Hogwarts Academy. It means you understand that God’s character and love are so enormous that you cannot possibly get a glimpse of the entirety. It’s like trying to imagine how far out the universe goes.
For hundreds of years Christian mystics played a prominent role in God’s church. To be a contemplative Christian—or mystic—simply meant you spent a significant portion of your life studying God’s Word and listening to His voice, typically in a place of retreat and solitude. Put that way, it sounds really appealing. I mean, can you imagine having the ways and means to make your devotion to the Father your actual job? Though that’s not realistic for most of us, we can be inspired by those who pursue the vocation.
Contemplation is not a quantitative discipline as much as it is a qualitative one; God isn’t keeping track of the minutes and hours you spend with Him. He’s more concerned about your heart and your posture toward Him. I like to read the great Christian contemplatives––e.g., John of the Cross, Teresa de Avila, Francis of Assisi, Julian of Norwich––to get a glimpse into the hearts and minds of Christian contemplatives. It’s never a bad idea to read the masters in any field.
To be a contemplative Christian doesn’t mean you belong to some mysterious society or embrace a gnostic (secret) gospel. God is the Father of lights—the more time we spend with Him, the more we are transformed by Him. There’s no secret to that winning equation! Contemplate the mystery of His love and dive in.
Father, Your Word says You are a lamp that guides my feet. Thank You for that!
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https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contemplation