tran•scend : to rise above or go beyond the normal limits of (something) Full Definition of TRANSCEND transitive verb 1 a : to rise above or go beyond the limits of b : to triumph over the negative or restrictive aspects of : overcome c : to be prior to, beyond, and above (the universe or material existence) 2 : to outstrip or outdo in some attribute, quality, or power intransitive verb : to rise above or extend notably beyond ordinary limits Origin of TRANSCEND Middle English, from Latin transcendere to climb across, transcend, from trans- + scandere to climb First Known Use: 14th century con•tem•plate : to think deeply or carefully about (something) : to think deeply : to think about doing (something) Full Definition of CONTEMPLATE transitive verb 1 : to view or consider with continued attention : meditate on 2 : to view as contingent or probable or as an end or intention intransitive verb : ponder, meditate Examples of CONTEMPLATE o He contemplated the meaning of the poem for a long time. o Id like some time to just sit and contemplate. o She stood and quietly contemplated the scene that lay before her. Origin of CONTEMPLATE Latin contemplatus, past participle of contemplari, from com- + templum space marked out for observation of auguries First Known Use: circa 1533 Note: The above definitions are excerpted from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary [merriam-webster/dictionary]. Philippians 4 [Amplified Bible]: 6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them]. 9 Practice what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and model your way of living on it, and the God of peace (of untroubled, undisturbed well-being) will be with you. Affixing ones mind upon those things that are virtuous is the challenge that each of us faces daily. It takes discipline and resolve to accomplish the same. And it takes the grace of God working on our behalf to instill in us the desire to develop that discipline and inure that resolve. It is truly encouraging to know that despite our inadequacy, our Father continues to see us as new creations that only need a push from Him to guide us in the right direction. That push, however must be accepted with appreciation for the purpose involved: to make us truly compatible with the environment that we are being prepared for. Contemplation is a great facility when it comes to establishing a mindset that is divine in import and virtuous in effect. To ponder and meditate is grossly underused in these current times. Inundated with bombardment from media people preoccupy themselves with hobbies that were designed to distract them and ultimately detract from the Higher Calling in Christ Jesus. To meditate upon something is to give ones mind over to the entertainment of not only the realities of a thing but also the possibilities (that might become realities if planning is begun towards that end). Fellow servant Paul shared over 1,900 hundred years ago that a disciple of Christ should make it their business to target certain positive realities as the source of their contemplation, for only through the engagement of these pleasantries would the candidate for Heaven foster the correct posture of heart that is requisite for acceptance (and corresponding entrance) into the divine realm. In other words, the peace that God provides to His children could not (and will not) be stimulated by a negative heart-set! It is the deliberate and definite exercise of virtuous thought that can brings us to Heavens gate. And once the gate has been discerned the child of God should know that the Spirit of Truth is already beside him/her to bring about the desired result of transcendental reflection: knowledge of the Truth. Paul also mentions – in the affirmative – that he and his cohorts had not received the spirit of the world, but the spirit that comes from God so that they could know the good things that God has given unto them. We in this present time should not make the mistake of dismissing that same impetus which is at our disposal. Finally, at the beginning of this transmission a definition of transcend was proffered. From it one should see that to elevate oneself above the petty and inconvenient vices of this world can only be effected through a thoughtful and conscientious preoccupation with truth, purity, and God Himself.
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 15:12:17 +0000
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