We’ve come full circle through the first of one of our outline “spokes.” A relationship with God through Christ is the center-point and focus of the normal Christian life. In any relationship, there must be communication (both ways). The primary mode of communication from God to us is His Word (heard, read, studied, memorized and meditated on). By Jesus’ own admission we can get The Word and miss the relationship – this is NOT God’s will! “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39-40).

Meditation’s end game is a soul inflamed in passionate love for Christ because of the cleansing, fueling, powerful activity that this Living Book has in making its way into every crack and crevice of our being through the relentless work of the Holy Spirit inside us. It is not dry, dusty religion. It is not rote memorization, chanting, a creed, a room full of religious zombies all mumbling the same thing! NO! It is the LIVING GOD stepping INTO the DEEPEST parts of the REAL YOU – SPEAKING! And as He speaks, we change. As He enlightens, we respond. Slowly, steadily, sometimes imperceptively, the “old” us “becomes less” and begins to fade. God is at work fashioning a new likeness of Himself in us – a person both totally unique in the world yet thoroughly ready for an eternal life with Him. This is why Jesus prayed for His disciples and us this request… “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). And the word “sanctify,” in this sense, means to set apart for special use, to clean a bowl or cup so well that it can be used to serve a King!

Read John 17 in its entirety and reflect on what verse 17 means now to you in your walk with Christ.