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About Bible Readings
What Stood Out |
Devotional Cross References Probably most of the people reading this are familiar with devotionals – collections of writings, each usually about a page long, which are designed to encourage and inspire the readers and help them grow in their walk with the Lord. One such devotional is Our Daily Bread, which is published quarterly and mailed for free upon request. It is also available daily online. There are also other devotionals online and published in books. Most of the cross references recently being added to this web site are what I call devotional cross references – they are designed to encourage and inspire the readers and help them grow in their walk with God. One definition of the word “devotion” is “ardent love or affection.” Often when one reads a devotion a major goal is to grow in one's love relationship with the Lord, and rightly so. When Jesus was asked, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment (Matt. 22:36-38). And our love for God is in response to His love for us: We love him, because he first loved us (I John 4:19). The Bible has often been called God's love letter to us. But love is not just a feeling, although there are times it helps us feel good. And the Bible is not just to make us feel good, even though it does sometimes. Genuine love helps a person grow in character, and the Bible does that. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works (II Tim. 3:16). A good devotion will do that too. Notice from II Timothy 3:16 above that All scripture … is profitable for four things: for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. Each of these is part of our love relationship with God. Doctrine Doctrine has been defined as “teaching; instruction.” Through doctrine we learn about the facets of God and His creation and His love. In His love, God gave us doctrine. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass (Deu. 32:2). Rain is a blessing. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain (James 5:7). Sometimes God withholds rain to motivate us to turn back to Him. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months (James 5:17). Then when His purpose has been accomplished, He sends rain again. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit (James 5:18). Doctrine shows us how to be free from sin and have everlasting life. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. … But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life (Rom. 6:17-18,22). If that's not love, I don't know what is! Reproof Reproof has been defined as “criticism for a fault.” We are instructed: Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16). Reproof is an act of love that reveals faults so that they can be confessed and that healing can come. Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities (Ps. 141:5). As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear (Prov. 25:12). Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured (Prov. 13:18). Reproof provides an opportunity to find honor. The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding (Prov. 15:31-32). Reproof directs a person toward the way of life. The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame (Prov. 29:15). And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever (Dan. 12:3). All these benefits of reproof come from a heart of love. Bless
the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Ps. 103:1-2). Correction To correct has been defined as “to make or set right.” Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many. I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths. When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened [restricted]; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble (Prov. 4:10-12). Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right (Prov. 16:13). My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things (Prov. 23:15-16). Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer (Prov. 24:26). For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth (Prov. 3:12). Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty (Job 5:17). Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him (Prov. 22:15). Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction (Prov. 10:14). Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat (Matt. 7:13). Correction directs a person toward the strait gate, away from destruction. O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing (Jer. 10:23-24). Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Heb. 12:9). Instruction in Righteousness To instruct has been defined as “to give knowledge or information; direct authoritatively; give an order precisely and clearly.” Because the context is instruction in righteousness, probably the latter two parts of this definition are the most applicable here. The reader is being directed in the way of righteousness, so “direct authoritatively” would be appropriate. For the LORD'S portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye (Deu. 32:9-10). This pictures the loving LORD finding his people … in a desert land, and directing them in the right way. Yea, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations; Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go. Thou gavest also thy good spirit to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst (Neh. 9:18-20). This is God in His love and mercy directing them in the right way. I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about (Ps. 32:8-10). Again, the merciful LORD directing in the right way to go – righteousness. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life (Prov. 4:13). He who receives instruction receives life. Certainly, providing this instruction is an act of love. Other Scripture portions showing that instruction is life are: His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray (Prov. 5:22-23). For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life (Prov. 6:23). He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth (Prov. 10:17). Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not (Prov. 8:33). Instruction gives wisdom – another blessing from the loving God. Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end (Prov. 19:20). Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding (Prov. 23:23). He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding (Prov. 15:32). Instruction is a great benefit to the soul; who would not want to receive this blessing from the loving God? I would lead thee, and bring thee into my
mother's house, who would
instruct
me: I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of
the juice of my pomegranate (Song 8:2). Probably what the
role of mother is most often portrayed as is love. Conclusion It has been shown how each of these four profits of Scripture – doctrine … reproof … correction … instruction in righteousness – is a demonstration of love from our Creator. A good devotional, which is designed to develop one's devotion (ardent love) to the God who created us and who first loved us, will contain one or more of these. In the same way, the devotional cross references on this web site refer to parts of Scripture containing one or more of these. Not all the cross references on this web site are devotional, but many or most are. It is hoped that the reader will be inspired, encouraged, and challenged to grow in his or her devotion to Him who first loved. To go back to where you left off, use the "Back" button of your browser.
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