– Walking In The Light
BRD REFLECTIONS:
Hosea 8 and Psalm 119:113-144 (NIV)
(Sim Bee Leng, Small Group Leader)
READ:
The verse which stood out for me was:
Psalm 119:130: “The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.”
OBSERVE:
Psalm 119 is a long psalm glorifying God and His Word.
In verses 113 to 144, I sense the Psalmist’s deep yearning for God’s Word and his desire to live according to it.
In Psalm 119:130, I am reminded that the Bible as the Word of God is the embodiment of God as the divine light. Eugene H Peterson paraphrases , verse 130 as “Break open Your words, let the light shine out, let ordinary people see the meaning” (The Message). God is Light, and His Word is also Light. As I read the Bible each day, the light of His Word shines forth and reveals to me who God is, His works and how I can live according to His ways.
APPLY:
The second half of Psalm 119:130 “…let ordinary people see the meaning” reminds me that I don’t have to be an intellect or be of an elite status to read and understand the Bible.
God wants to speak to ordinary people like me through the Bible, and He will help me understand the meaning of His Word. When I set aside time every day to read and meditate on His Word in an unhurried manner, the Holy Spirit will be my Teacher, revealing the meaning of the Scripture passage and how I can apply it in my life:
- The Bible contains God’s standards that help me understand right from wrong as I face choices in my life. In today’s world, where social consensus – the general social mores of the day – has a great impact on people’s choices, only God’s Word can correctly inform me about what is right and wrong. The more deeply established I am in God’s Word, the more clearly I can discern right from wrong. The light that shines from His Word will guide me to make the right decisions and choose the right path.
- The light of His Word is a searchlight that shines into my heart, to expose and convict me of the sinful acts I have committed. As I become aware of these, I can confess and repent before the Lord and receive His forgiveness.
- God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). As I read and meditate on Scripture, the Holy Spirit works powerfully through the Word of God to bring about the renewal of my mind, and to shape my thoughts and value system to align with God’s. As I obey and learn to live out the truth in His Word through the empowering of the Holy Spirit, I will become more Christ-like.
DO:
I need to intentionally set aside unhurried time each day to be alone with God, to read and meditate on His Word, to hear what He wants to say to me, and to obey and act upon it.
PRAY:
Dear Lord, help me to spend unhurried time with You each day, when I give You my wholehearted attention, to read the Bible, meditate on Your Word and pray. May You illumine my mind and grant me understanding of Your Word so that I can live my life confidently according to Your ways. As I live in the light of Your Word, may my life also reflect Your brilliance so that I can shine for you in this world. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
