Sit and Reflect

Martin Luther penned a beautiful description of what it means to sit, slow down and consider the Gospel. What it looks like to sit and truly stay still and take in the beauty of what’s written and allow yourself to take it all deeply to heart and see the miracles in scripture. He said, 

“no one will receive more benefit from it than those who, with a calm, quiet heart, banish everything else from their mind, and diligently look into it. It is just as the sun which is reflected in calm water and gives out vigorous warmth, but which cannot be so readily seen nor can it give out such warmth in water that is in roaring and rapid motion. Therefore, if you would be enlightened and warmed, if you would see the wonders of divine grace and have your heart aglow and enlightened, devout and joyful, go where you can silently meditate and lay hold of this picture deep in your heart, and you will see miracle upon miracle.” 

What a beautiful picture of how important it is for us to not just slow down in this busy season. We need to stop and sit and look into the beauty of what scripture is telling us took place. Not just in the story of Christ’s birth, which is nothing short of miraculous but every time we open the Holy Scriptures to seek out the things of God and what new way He’s showing us who He is.

The word sit is one I have heard over and over this month as something extremely hard for people to do. I was recently not feeling well and my team was trying to help me in my recovery. They were reminding me nonstop to sit back down and rest so I could make a full recovery. I heard another friend this week describing how she could not sit still in a hospital room this week as she sat with her husband who had been admitted. She went and took some time to go for a walk. Now, I’m not saying getting out in fresh air and clearing your head is a bad thing. I’m just demonstrating that it is indeed hard for us to sit still in regular life, especially when we are in trying circumstances. We want to feel like we are being productive, we want to feel like something is in motion and we’re not just stuck where we are. 

Martin Luther makes this beautiful point of saying sit and reflect. The word reflect is an amazing word. One definition is “consider, think deeply or carefully about”. Luther certainly is asking us to do that as we read. But as we consider what’s written, another definition is “to prevent passage of and cause to change direction”. So, we’re not letting it in one ear and out the other. It should be taken in and taken to heart. It must be internalized, and that takes time. Once done the direction changes from in through our eyes (or ears depending on how we are receiving) towards our heart and then lodged deep in it. Then and only then can the word reflect be defined in us as, “ to show an image of”. We are to show through our persons a reflection of who God is, who Jesus is, to the world around us.

We must sit still long enough for the water of our lives to be warmed by the sun so it in turn can warm others. We must sit still long enough for that water to reflect the glorious sky. Otherwise they will just see rushing water, which can be beautiful, but it reflects nothing.

After I wrote this passage, at the end of a long day and towards the end of a long week, my team leader and I were there late just taking our time cleaning up. I didn’t feel rushed as I normally do. I wanted to enjoy the time I was spending with her and just enjoy this last week before the Christmas break. As we were finishing up a man approached the door and tried to enter but it was locked. I stuck my head out and asked if we could help him. He was looking for the pantry and I unfortunately had to inform him we were closed. He was visibly upset and told us how he had coasted in on fumes and didn’t know what he was going to do. We had two choices at that moment. We could have brushed him away or taken a moment to listen to the need. What happened was amazing and his need was so easily met that day. He then told us how eight other churches had brushed him off. But, because we weren’t in a rush, we stopped and listened and responded to the need, he felt the warmth of Jesus. He told me, "I can see your light. I can see the light of Jesus reflecting in you." Can you believe that’s the vocabulary he used? 

So today, my prayer is that we all slow down and sit down. Let’s allow The Light of the world, Jesus Christ, to shine on us. Get into the Word. Unwrap it line by line. As you do, it will continue to reveal the person of Jesus and who He is. In that unwrapping, He changes us too. He transforms us. He works in us and through us to be His reflection. When we see Him in action, how He accomplishes things through us, we will be even more inclined to slow down, we will be eager to sit down and we will desire more than anything as we grow in awe of Him, to bow down at His feet and get away with Him. Remember in this amazing season, He came here for you and to be glorified through you.

Sit and reflect His glorious nature to this world. They desperately need Him and He’s counting on you to show them who He is.

Are you rushing? Are you busy?

Crosscheck it. In this season, replace it with slowing down and taking time to reflect.