Who Are You Meditating?*

With what kind of thoughts are we occupied, and what kind of words are we speaking throughout the course of our day? God's Word teaches us the importance of these things. Jesus said, "O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words, thou shalt be condemned." (Mt. 12:34-37). There is careless and idle speaking in the Church. Jesus said that it is out of an evil heart that we are speaking these things. After giving the warning above, Jesus asked why those who call Him "Lord" don't do the things that He says to do? (Lk. 6:45-47). Paul calls us living epistles for others to read. What is the world reading out of your "book"? Paul wrote for us to let no corrupt communications proceed out of our mouths. We are to speak "what is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. He adds, "grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Eph. 4:29-30). Our words can grieve the Holy Spirit, who is within us to keep us. Though the world is full of words of anger, wrath, and evil speaking, these things should not be coming out of our mouths, but rather kindness and forgiveness (v. 31-32). Who are you listening to, and what therefore becomes the word out of your mouth? Are you listening to political pundits? Do you meditate upon what is said by Fox News, or some other source? The wisdom of the Word of God is to dwell in us richly, expressing itself in teaching and admonishing (cautioning, reminding, correcting), and even come out of our mouths in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Whatever we do in word or deed, we are to do in the name of Jesus, thereby expressing thanksgiving to God (Col. 3:16-17). Is this what is coming out of our hearts and mouths? If not, why not? Scripture gives us the practical application of the Word of God in our lives: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate (haga - meditate, utter, mutter, muse, imagine, study) therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Joshua 1:8). What we "meditate" upon affects our words, our deeds, and even our success. Hebrew scholars compare meditation to a cow chewing its cud, regurgitating it, and chewing upon it again. Upon what and whom are you meditating? We hear negative things coming out of the mouths of believers, but the Word of God says, "I am healed", and "I can have whatever I say." Paul said for us to be transformed by having our hearts, and minds washed in the Word of God. David wrote in a Psalm for singing: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." (Ps. 19:14). In this verse, the word meditation is higayon, which means "resounding music". It doesn't surprise us then to know that David's music could cause demons to flee! The prophet Isaiah brought correction to God's people for their unrighteous acts, but also for their corrupt speech. The result was that they became separated from God to the point that He would not hear them: "...your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered (haga - meditate, mutter, utter) perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity...lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood." (Isa. 59:2-4, 13). Because of the words and actions of God's people, Isaiah said that justice and truth had fallen, and equity could not enter, and righteous men became prey. This displeased the LORD (v. 14-15). When the people of God begin to meditate and speak anything that is not the truth of God, it is a lie, and they cause truth and justice to leave the land. The covenant of God with His people is very different: "...this is my covenant with them; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed's seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever." (Isa. 59:21). God's covenant with us is for HIS Word to be in our mouths. As it says in 2 Chron. 7:14, when the people of God, called by His name, pray, repent and turn from their wicked ways, He will hear from heaven, and heal their land. While our careless words may bring harm to our land, when God's people turn back to loving and speaking His truth, healing can come to our land. Paul wrote, "...yea, let God be true, and every man a liar; as it is written; That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged." (Rom. 3:4). The lying words of men will increase in these last days in order to deceive men, even the elect, but God's Word in our hearts, and in our mouths, remains truth. Jesus said to Pontius Pilate that everyone of the truth hears His voice. Pilate then asked Jesus, "What is truth?". However, Pilate sought to release Jesus after his discussion with Him, and tried to convince the crowd also, saying, "Behold your King...Shall I crucify your King?". However, the religious leaders rejected Jesus as their King, and answered, "We have no king but Cesar." (Jn. 18 and 19). God's people, who should be those of the truth who hear His voice, are instead meditating on earthly kings and earthly things in place of Jesus, and are speaking them. Upon what and whom are you meditating and speaking? *Based on Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson's 3/13/2022 message to the church. To contact us, submit a prayer request, give a praise report, or to support this ministry: P.O. Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705 OR Everlastingcovenant@ymail.com. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and endtimeschool.com.