GOSPEL MEDITATIONS FOR
THE CONTEMPLATION OF GOD:
An Invitation and a Start
In 1987, after realizing I was too much engaged in “doing” the Faith, my attention was drawn toward the quiet contemplation of God, which has long been a tradition in the history of Christianity. The result was dozens of “meditations” that I placed in the Sunday bulletin. They were filed away until last week I discovered them and thought they might be a delight for some to see again, with a little revising and editing.
We are busy people, going in all kinds of directions. Acting out our Faith is good and necessary, but in isolation it can impact us in ways that we do not realize. It is likely good for us to be still from time to time, knowing and recognizing again that God’s Word and Work are so incredibly wonderful that they deserve serious thought and reflection. Note that I am not suggesting mindlessness or suppression of thought and desire, but rather the focus of mindful and deliberate thinking about God.
Gospel Meditations are both biblically and theologically intense and complex—they are not for everyone. For those who are beginners in the Faith, these might be difficult to grasp. The discipline of examining Scripture and internalizing it requires some spiritual maturity. So then, if at first the going is rough, keep at it and grow in your understanding of both the Bible and theology, while we ask the Holy Spirit to do a “deep” work in us.
So I invite us all to meditate upon, reflect on, contemplate, and consider afresh the Word and Work of our Triune God. Each Gospel meditation will center on a passage of Scripture, and a method of reflection will be outlined each week. Perhaps early in the morning we may rise up and seek Him, as David did, and rejoice at the wonder and beauty of God our Savior.
GOSPEL MEDITATION 1:
1 Timothy 6:11-16
"Paul's Doxology to Timothy"
ESV 1 Timothy 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before1 Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time - he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
- 1. Find a place where you can be alone and apart.
2. Be comfortably alert, being still and at peace.
3. Say the Lord’s Prayer.
4. Sing the Jesus Prayer.
5. Pray for family, friends, and yourself.
6. Slowly and carefully read the passage.
7. Reread it.
8. Focus on verses 15 and 16.
9. Paul is writing to his colleague and close friend Timothy.
10. He now launches into a doxology (good or glorious word) in which he considers
who God is. His focus is on the Triune God especially God the Son—Jesus Christ—whom the Father has sent.
11. The Triune God is “only Sovereign, King of kings, Lord of lords.”
12. God alone has immortality.
13. God dwells in unapproachable light.
14. This God has not been seen, but has revealed Himself in the Son, Jesus.
15. Indeed, to Him be honor and eternal dominion.
16. Grace is seen in that we now approach God in Christ.
17. The greatest of all is that we will see Him face to face.
18. Being quiet, then, may God speak to you through His Word.
19. Close out this Gospel Meditation with a word of thanks and praise.
