Geoffrey R. Kirkland
Pastor, Christ Fellowship Bible Church
To behold God thoughtfully, carefully, and accurately is the soul’s happy CONTEMPLATION OF GOD. To contemplate God means that we consider His glory, His attributes, His being, and His character. The Scriptures teach that the wise man considers the ‘loving kindnesses of God” (Psalm 107.43).
The psalmist prays that his meditations would be pleasing to God (Psalm 104.34). In order for a person to contemplate God rightly, He must have an open Bible before Him all the while. David said in the Psalms: “O how I love your Law; it is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119.97). That which consumes the child of God are the testimonies of His Word (Psalm 119.99).
The happiest state of a person consists in the regular, serious-minded, prolonged, and biblical pondering of the beauties of the Triune God. As the child of God meditates on God’s Law day and night, he will be careful to do according to God’s will and will have success (Joshua 1.8-9).
As you read the Bible and see God’s character, power, attributes, decrees, and redemptive plan unfold on every single page, let your heart soar high in the heavens with thoughts of Him. This is the contemplation of God. This is the highest and most wondrous occupation of the soul. David says: “On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wonderful works, I will meditate" (Psalm 145:5). Do you do this? In a very hurried world, do you pause and consider God?
Beware and be carefully on guard that distractions and busyness and the affairs of everyday life (even the good and important ones like a job, school, family, etc.) do not squeeze out the necessary time to contemplate God. It has been well-said that the contemplation of God hushes the clamoring voices of the world and hears the One who speaks from heaven! The more you consider and commune with Him, the more you’ll trust Him, the deeper you’ll love Him, the loftier you’ll honor Him, the happier your soul will be in fellowshiping with Him.
Discouragement creeps in because of contemplation of God’s goodness has waned. Anxiety and fear of all shapes and forms enters our hearts and minds because the contemplation of God has become minimal. Selfishness and pride and arrogance takes root in our hearts and lives because the contemplation of God’s majesty and loveliness has been infrequent. May it be that you would retreat from the busyness and hurried parts of your day and diligently prioritize time to consider God. How? Open your Bible, read a verse, a paragraph, a chapter, a portion, and then take a few minutes and ponder something of that truth about God. Consider it. Chew on it. Fill your thoughts, heart, mind, affections with God, with Christ, with the Spirit, with His gospel. Let that launch you in happy worship and joyous fellowship with your Savior. What is the contemplation of God but preparation for eternity where we will contemplate God and His excellencies forever and ever and ever! Start now! It is, perhaps, the most heavenly-like activity you can do while living on this earth. Contemplate your God!
**To access more of the Attributes of God study, click HERE.
