Meditating unto Maturity

The power to walk in the ways of the Lord is the Lord Himself, working in the hearts of his elect, redeemed people. God Himself is our change agent. The evidence of God indwelling the heart of one man, but not another, is the Word of God hidden therein. One says, “O how I love Your Law!” while another curses the name of his Creator. The contrast is stark.

In the day of God’s power, the vessel receiving His mercy becomes a willing witness (Ps 110:3; Acts 1:8; Rom 9:23). God has promised His elect that He will put His Spirit in them, and they will come to life (Ezek 37:14). It is the Spirit who brings the Word to our inward parts (Jer 34:33). He then causes us to walk in His statutes (Ezek 36:27).

With the Spirit and the Word operating in one’s heart, the imperatives of Scripture manifest from the fruitful work of God, willing and doing His good pleasure (Phil 2:13), to justify and sanctify His beloved ones (Rom 3:24; 15:16; 1 Thess 4:3, 7; 5:23; 2 Thess 2:13; 1 Pet 1:2). The Spirit has planted the seed of the Word in the regenerate (Jas 1:21), and it is growing by grace into a more and more vibrant life of faith. The same Word becomes the water to nourish the life of God in one’s soul (heart + mind).

The confession of one born again is heard in the words of praise and thanksgiving to God (Jn 3:6). This is our bold witness of Him who occupies the treasured meditations of our whole hearts. It is the Word of God that becomes the content of our prayers and praise. We meditate on the Word of truth, and then we worship in the Spirit of truth (Jn 4:23–24). His Word is on our lips, and the will to speak His Word comes from the heart, where the Spirit dwells (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11; 1 Cor 3:16; Gal 4:6; 2 Tim 1:14; Jas 4:5).

We are blessed when the Spirit is our Teacher (Jn 14:26). Some teach the philosophies and psychologies of men, which produces learning, leading to pride in self. In contrast, when God teaches us His ways, the result is humility. In weakness, He is our strength (2 Cor 12:10).

The Word of God is powerful (Heb 4:12), for it illumines, and its light sanctifies those who have been given eyes to see (Jn 17:17). The more light in the soul, the more delight is taken in the truth. One’s prayer evidences this growing hunger and thirst for righteousness, “Teach me Your statutes (Ps 119:12).”

The Word, fed by the Spirit and eaten up by the soul, will be upon the lips. The confessor cannot be anything but a professor. “I am not ashamed of the Gospel…,” because its wisdom and power have been working within me. Faith, preached and worked, is itself the produce of the Spirit (Gal 5:22). The Christian is a witness to all that God has prepared for him, beforehand (Eph 2:10). Our work of witnessing is actually a work of His Spirit (Jn 15:26; Acts 1:8; 15:8; Rom 8:16; Heb 2:4; 10:15; 1 Jn 5:6).

Christian, you were made for this purpose. Jesus Christ is the Word incarnate (Jn 1:1, 14). We preach Him because the knowledge of Christ is our treasure to be shared from the storehouse of heaven. Blessed are the ears that hear of Him who is our salvation (Ex 15:2), and who believe in their hearts because He has caused them to believe (Acts 16:14).

The riches of His glorious grace increase in value, as we receive more and more of this indescribable gift (2 Cor 9:15). Our Lord is most benevolent in giving good and perfect gifts (Jas 1:17). If the gift of Christ’s person and work is indescribable, then the gift of His Spirit, given to us, is invaluable (Acts 2:38; 10:45; Rom 5:5).

Christians are stewards of various amounts of these riches (Eph 4:13; 2 Cor 10:13), and God sovereignly dispenses from each depository, according to His will and purpose. In ourselves, we are not adequate, but He has made us adequate (2 Cor 3:5).

Filled with His Spirit, who causes us to know His covenant (Ps 25:14), increases our joy in the Lord. The burden of managing increased wealth in the material world is not to be compared to God’s management of true and unfathomable riches of His glory. Everything is owned by our God, and we enjoy His goodness, but woe to those who make idols from His gifts. Our all must be submitted to His service. He gives. We give it away. He gives again with increasing measure (2 Cor 8–9).

The joy of giving away precious treasures, knowing the infinite source of our resupply, compels us all the more to give and give again. What is the key to increased generosity of possessions having eternal value? It is our meditation upon them. The rich watch their possessions, but we keep our eyes on Jesus (Heb 12:2).

The gift of God is stirred up in the person who values it the most. This, of course, the natural man cannot do (1 Cor 2:14). He that is spiritual finds light in meditation on God’s Word (Jn 1:9), and he becomes a light to the world (Mt 5:14). Meditating on the Word of reconciliation causes the ministry of reconciliation because this is the ambassador’s life (2 Cor 5:18–20). He is becoming what he already is, but this is always increasing by God’s grace.

We are growing up in Christ (Eph 4:15; 2 Pet 3:18). The child delights with the mark on the door frame proving his increase in height, and the child of God delights in God maturing him into the fullness of Christ.

To delight in the Lord, we must delight in His Word. God’s Spirit fills us with the joy of the Lord, and our old loves are transformed into new affections… spiritual ones. God has begun this good work. He is increasing it. He will perfect it (Phil 1:6).

Christian, are you discontent with your spiritual progress? It is in you to pray for more from God, who gives the increase. Treasure Him, and He will give you more of Himself, which is the desire of your heart…which He has placed there so He can fulfill it. In this, He does not disappoint.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

May 11, 2022