Chew on It

Have you ever wondered how exactly we are supposed to live this "holy and blameless" life that Christ calls us to?

How are we, sinners by human nature, to go through our day-to-day lives in this un-godly, corrupt world without sinning? Without making a total and complete mess of things??

While we are saved by God's Grace (getting something we don't deserve--Heaven) and Mercy (not getting what we do deserve--Hell), through faith in Jesus Christ ALONE, we are not allowed this "get out of jail free" card to just continue on in life as we please because we're "saved."

(We can talk another day on Grace and how we will never be perfect, nor does Christ expect us to be perfect.)

But now, think about this....

Just as you desire to please those you truly love with all of your heart, we should have a desire to please Christ once we come into a relationship with Him. Our hearts should WANT to live a life for Him.

But How???

Psalm 119:9
How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:97
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Meditate.

Most of the time, this word is in reference to other religions, with a bad connotation. As if meditation is a bad thing to do. But when in reference to the "law" (God's Word), it is what we are to do in order to live this pure life of which we are called.

It's literal meaning according to dictionary.com is to engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.
My youth pastor once told me that it is as if you were chewing on something all day long.

Gum is where my mind goes when I think of chewing on something.  I love gum! I can chew 3-4 pieces in a day if I'm at work or needing to concentrate.

Scripture tells us repeatedly to meditate on God's Word, and Ps 119 says that it is the way that we can keep our "way pure".

Chew on God's Word.

As a teenager and throughout my college years, I made sure to surround myself with scripture that I knew I needed to memorize and have in my face each day.  I had signs on my mirrors, dresser, in my car, beside my bed...everywhere...with scriptures written on them.

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young..." (1 Tim 4:12)
"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world..." (Romans 12:1-2)
"...he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear...." (1 Cor 10:13)
"Your beauty...should be that of your inner self..." (1 Peter 3:3-4)


Chew on it.

Can you depend on 1 piece of gum to get you through an entire day?? Week?? Month??
Absolutely not!!

After a few hours (at best) it starts getting stale, and eventually loses all flavor. It becomes tasteless, and you have to spit it out before it begins to disentigrate in your mouth from all the chewing.
Hey, I said I love gum...I know what happens if you keep chewing it!

The same is true with Scripture. Why do we, as Christians (preaching to the choir here!) think that we  can go any amount of time without diving into His Word for guidance?

Without reading, memorizing, and "chewing" on Scripture, we fail to live up to the life that Christ called us to.
We begin being flavorless Christians, instead of the "salt and light" of the World. (Mat 5:13)

Dive in to His Word DAILY!!

Write out an encouraging verse and tape it to your mirror...get some flavor in your life!