Reflecting on Scripture
I want to go back to Paul’s second letter to Timothy. We spent two weeks in chapter 1 a little while ago, and this week I’d like to go onto chapter 2 which has much to say to us about living a strong Christian life.
There’s a little gem hidden in this chapter where Paul says in verse 7: “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”
I think that’s what we Christians are called to do day after day after day. To read our Bibles and reflect on what the biblical writers were saying, relying on God’s Spirit to give us insight.
Reflect, Entrust, Equip
Of course, preachers are especially called to this work of reflecting on the Word, and teaching it to others. In fact Paul also says this at the beginning of this chapter: “The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (v2). The church needs qualified teachers - qualified not just by rigorous learning and education, but qualified by virtue of being called by God, and equipped by His Spirit to teach the truth.
I hope and pray that you trust me, in my teaching of the Word, because you have sensed in me not just learning, but anointing from the Spirit as I reflect on the Word and seek to teach it to you.
I think there’s nothing worse that trying to push somebody into a position when they aren’t actually called to it, when they don’t thrive on it – especially when it comes to teaching and preaching God’s Word.
But on the other hand, reflecting on the words of Scripture is not just something for preachers to do. It’s something for each Christian to do. When Paul tells Timothy to reflect on what he’s saying, and that God will give him insight, I think he’s saying the same thing to us. If we don’t reflect on the words of Scripture – in other words, think about them, and wrestle with them, and have conversations about them – then we’re not going to get much insight. The words will go in one ear and out the other.
Worship, Reflect, Apply
I’ve often said to people that it’s important to have two groups in which you live out your Christian faith – a group of people to worship with, i.e. church on a Sunday; and also a group of people to discuss the things of God with, i.e. a small group or Bible study or home group or whatever you want to call it. Without those two groups, it’s easy to just hear Scripture, hear sermons, hear teachings, but never really reflect on them or ponder them or go deeper into them.
A strong Christian is a reflective Christian, who receives God’s truth and thinks on it and applies it to their lives, rather than just hearing it and discarding it.
I hope we can reflect on this message today, and seek out opportunities to reflect further on the truths God shows us, with other Christians.
