Devotions Idea: Read Through Overview Twist

A standard thing to do for devotions is to read through the Bible.  It’s a great way to become and stay familiarized with Scripture, and to discover lots of great verses and promises.

However, reading through the Bible can lose its spiritual punch easily and become a checklist item.  There are a couple of ways to prevent that.  One way to make sure you process the information that you read is to look for a highlight in each chapter.  In each chapter look for the most important, or the most interesting verse, and write it down.  This system will make sure that you examine the information in each chapter and make a connection with it.  It turns the reading from a passive activity into an active one.  It is more work than simply reading through the Bible, but it is more rewarding.  Think of this method as another tool at your disposal.

Here are the verses that I highlighted during my reading this morning.  I’m reading through the NIV currently.  Also note that it is better to read in several places in the Bible rather than straight through.

Matthew 21:41 -  “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”

Matthew 22:40 -  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Genesis 29:20 -  So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her.

Genesis 30:30 -  The little you had before I came has increased greatly, and the LORD has blessed you wherever I have been. But now, when may I do something for my own household?”

Nehemiah 5:16 -  Instead, I devoted myself to the work on this wall. All my men were assembled there for the work; we did not acquire any land.

Psalms 16:8 -  I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Devotions Idea: Steps to Christ

One thing that I’ve done for devotions that’s pretty cool is to take a Steps to Christ chapter (by Ellen White), and summarizing each paragraph in a sentence.

The chapters aren’t too long, and it’s a doable thing that’s enjoyable and doesn’t feel like it’s taking forever.  The exercise really helps to condense the concepts and principles of salvation.  It helped crystallize them for me.  Sometimes condensing the paragraph into a sentence is hard, but process things for a while and try to get the paragraph down to its essence.

The following example is from Steps to Christ chapter 2: The Sinner’s Need of Christ.

1) Mankind lost perfection, and became selfish and a captive to Satan.

2) After sin, mankind could not naturally be happy in God’s presence, but would feel out of place and miserable there.

3) Mankind cannot, even with culture, education, and willpower, purify itself, but must rely on the transforming power of heaven, which is Christ, popularly known as the “new birth.”

4) It is not enough to know that God is loving and just, because we will even then operate under our rebellious nature; we must behold the Lamb of God.

5) The Bible illustrates this truth in the ladder shown to Jacob, which is Jesus being the only method of communication between heaven and earth.

6) Mankind alienated itself from God, but Christ has bridged the gap so that weak and helpless humanity be connected with infinite power.

7) There is no progress, uplifting of humanity, or true excellence of character apart from Christ.

8 ) God’s love for us is stronger than death, and all of Heaven’s interest and energy are enlisted in behalf of man’s restoration.

9) Contemplate and appreciate the amazing character and graciousness on the part of God, that He is working to bring us back to to a perfect home and perfect existence!

10) On the other hand, consider the warnings against sin, its punishment, the degradation it brings, and its sure end.

11) Shall we ignore the mercy of God?  What more could He do?  Let us take advantage of the ways He provided for us to be transformed into His likeness, restored to friendship with the angels, and communion with the all-powerful God.