~ Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things ~
2 Timothy 2:7, KJV
Whether it is listening to a favorite Christian broadcast, sermon, or a daily devotion – immersion into the word of God is not merely a chore to be accomplished. It requires sincere time of meditation in which we consider the words we hear or read. This is what the Apostle Paul was instructing Timothy on. Our understanding of the scriptures, of the teachings, and of those things pertaining to the kingdom of God come about when we first consider the teachings.
What does it mean to consider? What are those things we are to consider? How does our consideration bring understanding from the Lord? Let us briefly explore.
Consideration – A Spiritual Mindset
The first principle of this is that of meditation. Psalm 1:2 shares that a man of God is blessed when he meditates day and night on the teachings (law) of God. When we look to receive blessings, we realize they come upon our time of reflection on what is being taught.
In addition to meditating upon God’s word, we also come to a place where consideration has purpose in chastisement. One of the purposes of scripture is to correct. Not just the way we believe, the way we are living our lives.
Deuteronomy 8:5 says: “Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee” (KJV).
In the Hebrew, Chasten is yasar, this means to discipline and admonish. Like a father may discipline and admonish his son, so also shall our God discipline and admonish us as we strive toward spiritual perfection.
Consideration of the Past
What makes each individual unique is their own past experience. Going further, the past experience and lives of those who have lived before us. Deuteronomy 32:7 provides this insight:
Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders, and they will tell thee. (KJV)
We learn from our elders and inherit their legacy of faith. Taking into consideration of not only our past, the past history of humanity and the teachings, experiences, and the faith exemplified in the many lives of men and women of God; we come to learn a great deal.
Consideration of the end of life
As Christians, we look forward to that blessed hope of standing before Jesus Christ. We come to know that this life has purpose and meaning. That purpose and meaning is to enter into an eternal rest.
Keeping with Deuteronomy, we read the following:
O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! (Deut. 32:29, KJV).
We are not only considering our past and the legacy of those who have come before us, we are also to consider and come to understand the legacy we also will leave behind for those who will come after us.
Consideration of God’s Providential Blessings
We merely do not reflect on the words of God, the teachings inspired by His Holy Word; we are also tasked with the consideration of His providential blessings over our own lives. 1 Samuel 12:24 shares this: “Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.” (KJV). By reflecting on the blessings we have received, we come to understand God with a praise of gratitude.
When we begin to consider the things of God, we come to understand God’s wonderful works (see Job 37:14). We also come to understand God’s divine interest in mankind (see, Psalm 8:3-4). We also come to see how we develop a disappointment toward a worldly life (see, Haggai 1:6). We are to learn from nature as well (see, Matthew 6:28-29). More importantly, we are to consider the matchless life of Jesus Christ, (see Hebrews 12:3).
If we are to truly come to understand the things of God, we must take the time to consider all things in relation to God.
