I have been seeing a lot of advertisement and talk lately about, “Quick Bible Devotions.” This is what I am hearing:
- They only take 5 minutes of your time.
- Read them quickly before you get out of bed.
- Listen to a quick podcast while you cook breakfast, or pour that bowl of cereal…
Disclaimer:) I am not bashing devotions or podcasts! I listen to podcast myself. I do read devotions on occasion. But, if all you are reading daily is a quick devotion. I urge you as one sister in Christ to another, pick up your Bible and read it too.
Instead of Slowing Down We are Replacing
I know devotions have been around for years but for some reason this morning I cannot stop thinking about reading a “quick devotion.” Has Satan fed us another lie? Well of course he has! He is the father of lies after all. Jesus tells the Pharisees in John 8:44, that they belong to their father the devil. “He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
There is no doubt that Americans are busy. I am afraid the lies of Satan are taking root. So we’re busy but instead of slowing down, we keep up the pace and let something else go that is less important. In this case, it is the reading and studying of the word of God! You and I may not purposely think the Bible is less important than other things in our lives, but by our actions, it shows that is what we believe.
The Church is Too Busy
Reading or listening to a five-minute devotion is not meditating. I listen to a lot of sermons while I am driving. It is just what I do! They are good and you can glean a lot of insight from them. However, I know from experience that if I read something quickly it goes into my ears but most of the time does not go to my heart. The same is true with listening to a podcast. But when I sit quietly and meditate on the pure milk of the word, I hear, and it begins to pierce my heart and I grow in discernment and wisdom. That is the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer that studies the word of God. It is your promise and mine.
If you will stop just a minute and really look at the church today you will see that it is busy. The business is causing a lack of discernment and wisdom!
Get Off of the Fast Train
There is much grace in these words because I can be a super busy person! Not so much anymore. God is teaching me there is a lot of good but to desire the best. I want to say this, it is not just the world that is busy, Christian moms and wives are busy. The church is busy! But Why? If the activities in which we’re involved keep families from being families and keeping us from sitting at the feet of Christ, like Mary, we’ve bought into the lie! Look at the words of Christ spoken in Luke 10:40-42.
“But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him, and said, ” Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away.”
Slow Down and Meditate on God’s Word
How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the paths of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His Law he meditates day and night.
Psalm 1:1-2
Now that you have read your devotion sit down at the feet of Christ and meditate on God’s pure word! Remember what Christ said to Martha? Only a few things are necessary, really only one.”
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Thanks for this truth,. I find when I resolve to only read the Bible and lay aside devotional reading, God blesses the effort.
Mary, you are very welcome!! God does bless our efforts when we read His Word! He should be the main Author we read and the main Speaker we listen to. Thanks for stopping by today! God Bless:0
Appreciate the truth you and Mary, the above commentator, have given me. Thanks be to God! and thank you the vehicles of His truth.
You are so welcome Anne! I am thankful God speaks truth! Love and miss you!
Thank you for this. Quick devotions lead us to believe we’ve done ‘enough’ but when God is our everything minimum is not enough. When I’ve read more words of people in this world (including words related to Christianity) than I have words of God in the one book he gave us, then I am more worldly than Christlike. And I’m not okay with that.
Hi, Katherine! You are so right quick devotions do lead us to think we have done enough! Minimum is definitely not enough! Thank you for stopping by with your encouragement today! Blessings:)