Daily Devotional Journal

Do you ever feel that you love others more than they love you? You might be right. Perfect symmetry is rare in any relationship, and so one party will be more highly invested in it than the other is. Do you resent it when this happens, because you feel you are making a greater sacrifice and not receiving the same in return? But would you rather be the one who loves less? Love is the theme of the Bible and your goal as a believer. You are able to do it because I first loved you. Rejoice when you are able to love more, for great is your reward in heaven, and remember that in our relationship I am the one who is more loving, so in doing this for others you become more like me. Freely you have received, freely give. 

Daily Devotional Journal

Have you ever heard it said that a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing? Did you think this applied only to skills and academics? Could it be true for spiritual knowledge? Have you met believers who know enough to think that everyone below them is in darkness and everyone above them is in false doctrine? My word says that knowledge puffs up, and this is particularly true of spiritual knowledge. On the other hand, love is edifying. Which do you think is the goal of the Christian life? There isn’t anything inherently wrong with gaining spiritual knowledge. Let yours make you more loving instead of less. 

Daily Devotional Journal

How do you study the Bible? Have you been to Bible studies where the prevailing idea was that I gave you a Bible and a brain, and if you apply yourself with enough fervor you can figure it out? This is the attitude of your rationalist culture. Does the Bible itself support it? I told my critics to search the scriptures in which they thought they had eternal life, but they would not come to me to have life. The issue here isn’t being smarter or working harder. I promised to send the Comforter to lead you into all truth. Do you understand this to include the meaning of the Bible? It should mean this more than anything else. Do you study the Bible from this perspective? 

Daily Journaling Devotional

My law was originally written on tablets of stone, but I spoke of a time when they would be written on the hearts of my people. Stone has given way to paper for the written word, and now you can read the same words as an electronic image, but do you see that the same principle still applies? Modern technology has not changed it. Do you believe in the existence of eternal truth? Does it amaze you that it can be captured on paper? Have you internalized it so  that it lives within you? The word that was from the beginning, which dwells in you, is eternal and would endure even if the book were absent.