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\u201cKeep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful\u201d (Joshua 1:8).

\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Once, while helping a college roommate make a pot of chili, we learned a valuable lesson. Having tasted the chili my roommate decided it needed more heat. So, he added another teaspoon of chili spice, stirred the pot, and took another sample. He didn\u2019t think it had improved much, so he added more spice. Once again, he stirred the pot and tasted. I could tell by his reaction he still found the chili rather mild, so I encouraged him to add more spice. This went on for a bit until he thought there was heat in the pot.

\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Those of you who know something about chili spice, can guess what happened when our dormmates gathered around the table for dinner. (If I remember correctly, more chili ended up on the walls than in our stomachs). You see, it takes several minutes for chili spice to savour the sauce its in. By the time that pot got on the table all that chili spice had released its heat. It was beyond hot!

\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Mediation on scripture is similar. A simple definition of meditation is to \u201cthink deeply or carefully about something\u201d. This takes time. Its taking a bit of scripture and letting it slosh around inside our hearts and minds. We savour it. We let it simmer. As we do so, its flavours begin to savour our lives.

\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 Our emphasis is often on reading scripture, including reading the whole Bible in a year. There is nothing wrong with that. But reading is not enough. Reading can be like filling a glass measuring cup with water. We get our fill, but the water does not change the cup. The reading of God\u2019s Word is meant to change us. For that, we need to meditate on it. And for that, we need time. Not idle time, necessarily. While doing tasks that don\u2019t require our full attention, we can learn to savour God\u2019s Word.

\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 For most of Christian history people could not read the scriptures because it was not available through mass publication, and few people could read. But they could mediate. Its purpose is to clear our mental and spiritual vision of God, and to let his truth make its full and proper impact on our mind and heart. The printing press has added many benefits to our society and digital material even more. But more is not always more. Less can be more, if the less has opportunity to change our hearts.

\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 In our text, God is giving the leadership of Israel to Joshua. Moses has died. God says to him, \u201cBe strong and courageous.\u201d We like that commission. But when divorced from its context we miss its import. \u201cBe strong and courageous, careful to obey all the law\u2026meditate on it day and night\u2026\u201d (7,8). Joshua\u2019s task is not simply to defeat God\u2019s enemies in Canaan, but to lead Israel to be God\u2019s holy people. For that, Joshua needs to know God\u2019s Word. Meditation is the road to knowledge. That is God\u2019s commission of Joshua.

\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 We don\u2019t want to be like pharisees, who are only holy on the outside. We want to be holy on the inside so that we naturally do what is right; so that we don\u2019t even think about it, we just do it. Meditation on scripture leads to fuller obedience, to a deeper attachment to God, to a deeper friendship with Jesus, to a more holy life.

\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0 In the New Testament, Paul puts it like this, \u201cSince, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things\u2026Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature\u2026clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience\u201d (Colossians 3:1,2,5,12). Meditation on the Word (written and living) changes the heart and thus, the life.

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you. May he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm. May he bring you home rejoicing; at the wonders he has shown you.\xa0May he bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.