Thresh them out...

The great preacher Charles Spurgeon suggests that as we consider the truths of the bible we need to "thresh them out through meditation."  What does this mean exactly? So often as we read the bible (or other sources of spiritual encouragement), we simply run over the concepts, never letting them become realities in our lives.  And although we can then claim we read the bible that day (feeling confident that at least we did that), the reading was virtually unproductive.  Instead, Spurgeon suggests we do two things with our daily reading. 

First, we are to thresh out the words and concepts like seeds of grain being separated from their husks.  We are to take apart the words, sift through the realities, beat the concepts into our consciences until their truths make a difference in the way we conduct our lives.  This process may prove painful (as the process of threshing is) but, in the end, its where God's Word becomes practical, relevant and life-changing.

Second.  How do we thresh out these concepts?  Through meditation.  It takes time to separate the grains from their husks.  Daily time must be set aside for self-examination; for contemplation; for pondering.  And when this time is allotted, the threshed out truths can become realities.

When was the last time you threshed out a concept through meditation?  Why not pick a certain bible verse and try it today?

"The teaching of your Word gives light, so even the simple can understand."  Psalm 119:130