Reflection Required

Confucius said: "By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." 

Reflection is really a combination of what we are learning right now based upon our consideration of past experiences. We are going through something right now, but the events and outcomes of the past play a big part in how we 'interpret' the present situation. We spend time thinking about what we have already learned (past events) and what it is God is trying to teach us right now, don't we? Psalm 119:15 reminds us to study God's commandments and reflect on his ways. Psalm 119:55 tells us the result of that reflection: "I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord; therefore, I obey your instructions." Obedience is to be the outcome of reflection!

In observing God's actions throughout scripture, we come to a place of learning when he will act, how it is he will do something, and what he may be accomplishing by those actions. Reflect long enough on scripture and you soon begin to 'imitate' his actions - especially that of love. I John 3:11 tells us we should love one another - the message God told his people from the very beginning of time. No amount of 'self-reflection' will develop the type of love that looks beyond a person's faults and sees the things God sees in that individual, though. It takes us reflecting upon the grace and goodness of God to begin to see the goodness of God in others.

Love isn't just an emotion. It is an investment of ourselves into the other person's life. We see that example in Christ's sacrifice. He gave himself - putting us FIRST above all else - investing all he had in order to make us all that we didn't deserve to be. Love doesn't look at what one deserves - it sees what one needs and begins to meet that need. Studying scripture may seem monotonous to some, but if we want to learn wisdom, we need to reflect upon it until it moves us into action. The actions that come from that reflection produce results that are likely not always 'predictable' or 'expected'. Obedience isn't always predictable, but it is reproducible!

Past experiences don't always give us the right perspective on the situation before us. When we take that situation to God, considering his truth in his Word, we might just find that insight comes. Obedience isn't 'natural' when the situation is hard, is it? Sometimes the most important part of obedience is the time we take reflecting upon his truth and then allowing it to produce the actions we might not want to take 'naturally'. Just sayin!