Reading goal checked off or meet and know God now?

To read certain verses to fulfill a Bible reading system is not to take the Scripture in, to dwell upon it, to ponder its meaning and to explore its implications. Often, it’s an effort to perform, to check off one more thing I need to do today to be a decent Christian. 

This explains why many folks know a lot of Bible trivia but do not meet God when they open the Scripture. To dwell, to ponder, to explore means reading slowly and wondering what life, reality, or even I personally would look like if this passage were really true. It means asking, What is God saying to me today? 

TODAY’S EXPERIMENT - Read the following slowly: “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-4, NIV). Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you ponder one of these questions (whichever one grabs you) and read the passage again:
-What would it look like to set my heart (will, spirit) on things above? What things above?
-What would it look like to set my mind (ideas, images, information) on things above? What things above?
-What in the world does being “hidden with Christ in God” mean?
-Why might that be something I would want? “Appears” is also translated “is revealed” (NRSV).

Consider what Christ being revealed in (or to you in) your daily life would mean about your spiritual formation. After you have dwelt upon, pondered, and explored the verses and a question above, respond to God. Try writing a prayer or saying it aloud to make it more relational and give it concreteness.


                                            


 

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