Student Devotionals
Psalm 1:1-3
Happy Easter! Although there are many reasons to enjoy Easter, I especially love being confronted with the reality that the resurrection of Jesus actually happened. Even as someone who has grown up in the church, this fact continues to boggle my mind.
Far from being a mere piece of historical trivia, Easter loudly declares that the resurrection is an essential truth that is meant to change our lives. It proves that Jesus is God. It demonstrates Jesus’ victory of the grave. It reinforces that we too will one day die and be resurrected, as will our friends and family. What kind of fate will await them in this resurrection? Will it be a time of victory and joy, or a great tragedy? Easter compels us to orient our lives in the service of Jesus and his coming kingdom, pursuing the true “happy ending” for every person we come into contact with.
Of course, having one’s life transformed in the manner I described isn’t an instantaneous process. Lots of people simply go through the motions every Easter. At its worst, what is meant to be a life-changing celebration can become an empty ritual and make people numb to the true power of Christ.
So, how can we avoid this? How can we make God’s Word become alive and transform our lives?
The answer is simple: we meditate on it.
Consider Psalm 1:1-3...
“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor stands in the way of sinners, not sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers” (emphasis added).
The only way Scripture produces joy and fruit in our lives is if we think about it deeply and regularly. Even Easter is meant to be the culmination of a year of thinking about Christ’s victory, not a random occasion disconnected from the rest of the year.
One of the great tragedies I have observed in the lives of many believers is that meditating on God’s Word is seen as a chore. Perhaps this is due to the fact that reading the Bible is rightly categorized as a discipline. However, just because something is necessary and expected of us does not mean it should be reduced to tedium. That is almost as silly as saying that one is drudgingly obligated to “consume” a delicious dinner strictly for survival!
Does Psalm 1 present meditating on Scripture as a boring exercise that one merely “puts up with” for spiritual health? Absolutely not! Actually, it says the opposite.
Do you want to be happy? Psalm 1 says, then learn to think deeply about God’s Word. Do you want your life to have meaning, to escape depression, and be reassured that you are not idly wasting your life away? Psalm 1 says, then learn to think deeply about God’s Word. Do you want a sure-fire way to put stress in the right perspective and find peace in the middle of life’s ongoing tragedies? Psalm 1 says, then learn to think deeply about God’s Word.
...And goodness, on that last point, don’t we need relief right now in the midst of COVID-19? God’s Word has the answer. This duty is a delight!
But maybe you’re thinking, “No Michael… this is just oversimplified and wishful thinking. It all seems too spiritual. How could meditating on God’s Word possibly make me happy?”
Actually, it makes a lot of sense. Lots of things in our lives are joyful with the right knowledge... and outright terrifying without it! Flying a plane sounds fun until you are put into the cockpit without training. How can we expect to enjoy and thrive in the life that God has given us if we refuse to receive His instruction? The Bible leads us to joy while protecting us from sin, which unequivocally leads to pain and death in the end. It is a treasure that teaches us how to receive salvation, be forgiven of our sins, and escape the coming wrath of God. What could be better than that?
There is only one thing: God Himself. Do you realize that meditating on God’s Word is ultimately to meditate on Him? The consistent teaching of the Bible is that nothing is sweeter than knowing our Creator and having a loving relationship with Him forever. Those who have tasted the goodness of God already have some sense of this and wish to dig deeper still. Those who have not, need to take their first bite.
If you say you want to follow Jesus, wouldn’t it be good to take him at his word about this? Try it out! There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. If you’re stuck, let me recommend two simple ideas to get you going:
- Pick a free reading plan online or purchase a Bible that is already arranged in daily readings. I enjoy plans like this one that give you a mix of OT, NT, Psalms, and Wisdom Literature.
- Commit to at least opening your Bible once a day. In the long run, getting in the habit of opening the Bible will get you reading it. Whether three minutes or three hours, you will benefit from meditating on God’s Word.
And if you want help with thinking deeply about God’s Word, then keep checking back each day in this devotional series. We’ll have a fresh devotional for you tomorrow.
Celebrating the Risen Christ,
Michael Towson
San Gabriel Valley Chapter Director
National School Project