The Backdrop:
Depending on how long you’ve walked with Christ, there’s a good chance you’ve done a good number of devotionals similiar to this one that you’re doing right now. You’ve probably grown some and learned a little (maybe a lot), which is great. Here is the gut-wrenching candid question: Does your devotional time lead you to an encounter with Jesus? There is a reason I ask. It’s easy to miss the point of personal devos and Bible study time. For one thing, it’s easy for devos to become a to-do item on a checklist. It’s also easy for devos to be an exercise in gaining knowledge about Jesus but stopping short of actually encountering Him.
Jesus hates it when this happens. He wants to connect with us.
The What:
Below are two situations when Jesus explained the role that God’s written Word is to play in our lives; it’s an explanation that we should always consider when forming our own devotional time. As you read the verses from your Bible, write on a separate piece of paper everything you learn about the relationship between Scripture and Jesus.
Jesus is speaking to some folks who questioned His acts of healing on the Sabbath; they were also upset about Jesus claiming He was equal with God (
Jesus is speaking with two of His followers on the road to Emmaus shortly after His resurrection. The two followers don’t yet know they’re speaking with Jesus (
The So What:
Based on what you just read, what’s the relationship between Scripture and Jesus?
Where do we get life?
Seal the Deal:
There is nothing supernatural about words on a page. Jesus is our source of life. Words on a page lead us to Jesus.
Let’s give it a whirl. The passages below contain either information about Jesus, or, words from Jesus. Read these verses from your Bible in a manner in which you will not only learn things about Jesus, but you will encounter Him. Meditate on these until you sense Jesus revealing Himself to you in some fashion. Linger until you achieve some type of holy wow! You may change the nature of your devo time forever.
Matthew 6
Mark 1:9-45
Luke 5:27-35
