When people are asked whether they believe they will go to heaven and why, what is the most frequent answer? Why is their belief such a dangerous one? And what about after we’re saved, what keeps us right with God? Is it right living or something else?
Nehemiah 8.10 says, “… the joy of the Lord is your strength.” How did the people in Nehemiah’s day go from brokenness over their sin to joy? Why should we find joy for the same reasons?
Also, read about the importance of different spiritual gifts, why it’s so important to understand the character of God, and how God uses the storms in our lives.
What is the difference between religion and biblical Christianity? One is about works. It’s about constantly working to acquire or maintain a right relationship with God. The other is a gift of grace. Which one describes your relationship with God?
Also, our reading in Proverbs says, “The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it.” It goes on, “What the wicked fears will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.” What kind of riches can a believer in Christ expect and how does the fear of the wicked come back upon him?
When do we need the gospel? Is it a one-time thing? Does it have anything to do with our ongoing walks with God? How could the answers to these questions help us love God more and transform our lives?
Also, read about why we are responsible for our own spiritual growth and for whether or not we are hearing solid biblical teaching. And while the word Trinity doesn’t actually appear in the Bible, why we can trust its reality.
Why a fresh start through the Bible? And why “through” the Bible? Why not just read here and there, perhaps finding a subject that interests you? Or how about a short devotional? As long as you read something every day, isn’t that good enough? Today’s reading from the book of Psalms gives us a very good illustration of why it’s so important to read God’s Word in context.
The psalmist in Psalm 1 talks about a man who is like a tree planted on a riverbank where it gets plenty of water and is always fruitful. The psalmist goes on to say that God prospers whatever this man does.
I don’t know about you, but I want my life to be like that. But despite some who teach that God wants to make every believer prosperous, there are requirements for this prosperity. There are things we must do and other things we are to avoid. We also need to understand what the psalmist meant when he wrote about prosperity. If we don’t, we may find ourselves disillusioned, even angry, with God.
But this is just one example of the importance of understanding God’s Word in context, in its entirety. One of the biggest problems I find among believers is a failure to know God, to know His character, and to know how He works through our tests and trials. As a result, far too many lead faithless defeated lives.