Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection. Do not add to his words,or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar. – Proverbs 30:5–6
Dr. Chuck Swindoll, in his introductory notes to the book of Romans, shares a story about a pastor named Donald Barnhouse, who started his ministry at Tenth Street Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. Barnhouse stepped into the pulpit on his first Sunday morning and preached from the first verse of Romans 1.
The next Sunday morning, he stood up and preached on the second verse of the same chapter – but didn’t even finish that verse. So the next Sunday morning, he picked up where he had left off in the second verse and moved on into the third verse.
For 42 months – three and a half years – Barnhouse never preached on a text outside of Romans.
God’s Word is so rich – so full of truth that you can read and meditate on just one verse for hours. Yet it’s easy to just jump in and out of your devotional time, checking your box and forgetting what you just read, isn’t it?
Don’t turn your Bible reading into a race against the clock – trying to get as much in as you can. Take it verse by verse, absorb it slowly, and let incredible truth change your life!
Prayer Challenge
Pray that God would use His Word – every word of it – to transform your life.
Questions for Thought
What have you been reading and learning in the Scriptures this week?
What’s one way you might be able to modify your devotional time to get more out of God’s Word?