Personal Devotional Life

 

 

In public worship and Bible classes we grow in knowledge of God’s word and are built up spiritually. However, the public assembly is not a substitute for private devotions. In order to mature as Christians we must read, pray, and meditate on spiritual matters in the privacy of our own homes. It is a good idea to set aside a regular time each day for these activities.

 

In the Old testament Israel was instructed to have God’s word in their heart and to teach it to their children. In Deuteronomy

6:6-9 we read: “And these words, which I command you this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou riseth up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shall write them upon the posts of thy house, and upon thy gates.”

 

Private Bible study and meditation can make us fruitful in God’s service. The Psalmist described a righteous man in these words: “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doeth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:2-3)

 Claude