“These are evil times, so make every minute count.” (Ephesians 5:16 CEV)
The black square object in your house comes in many sizes, ranging from small to very large. The age of the black square object, or in some cases the age of the “objects,” ranges from several years to nearly brand new. The older ones have signs of wear because of how often it has been used. The newer ones, thin or thick, sometimes sit around without a hint they have been handled at all. Some of the black square objects are moved from room to room, while many rooms have a black square object assigned its on special space. I remember the times when there was only one large black square object in the house. Some pay the black square object a lot of attention and spend hours looking at it every morning and night. Others find what they believe to be better ways to spend their time than the black square object.
I could be referring to the televisions set(s) in your home or nowadays even the phone that you carry everywhere. While there are differences from country to country, in the paragraph above I could be referencing the time spent by Americans looking at TV, over 3 ½ hours a day on average! And that does not include using the TV for video games. Let’s face it, we have our favorite shows that we never miss! We watch local and national news at the start and at the end of every single day. Some of us never miss a certain series and others never miss a coveted sports event or in desperation for devoted sports fans, poker becomes a sport. The black square object called the TV gets its use and that’s for sure.
Well what about the amount of time we spend engaged, enlightened, and even encouraged by spending time with the black square object that I was really alluding to in the first paragraph above…the Bible? Do we get into it regularly? Are we part of the 9% who read the Bible daily, a fact pointed out in 2020 by the American Bible Society? Do we start our day with it? Do we end our day with it? Do we value it as a source of fact over all the fiction that we are drowned in on the other black square object? Which black square object is dear to your heart? Note: We can answer that question by calculating how much time you spend with both objects. Let’s continue. Which one do we talk about with a sense of excitement and energy at the lunch table when we are sitting with a friend? Which black square object do we let guide our behavior? Which one do we cherish in our hearts, the black square object called the television, or the black square object called the Bible? Which one is always profitable or useful, not according to your word, but to God’s word?
Well we have some questions to answer this Saturday morning, don’t we? So spend some time contemplating and coming up with your answers, responses that reveal something about you personally. And then spend some time thinking about tomorrow, the Lord’s Day! Prepare yourself to hear a word from the black square object! Be blessed!
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV)
Still committed to the climb,
Mark L. King
I must admit, although object I have my black square object, the Bible, close by, I don’t spend hours daily meditating over it or studying it as I should. My desire is to spend more time in His word and keep close to my heart so that I may not sin against Thee. I’ll continue to strive to engage more often as it is my stronghold and my shield that protects me from the fiery darts thrown at me on a daily basis. Those darts come in a variety of ways trying to make me fall or stumble in the wrong direction. Thank you for the admonishment for our own protection. May God continue to bless you.
I am always impressed by how you reflect on the meditation, making it beneficial to your commitment to the climb. Thank you for taking the time. God bless you!