Shaping Devotional Destiny Through Self-Examination

When it comes to our devotional and spiritual journey, the words of the Bible are to serve as both a guide and a mirror reflecting the essence of our conversation’s character. This reflection only takes place as the saying, as it is found in 2 Corinthians 13:5, is followed, "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves."

Self-examination, as Paul advocates, is not merely a routine but a strict dialogue with oneself. It is a conscious effort to scrutinize our beliefs, actions, and the alignment of our faith. The Bible becomes the instrument through which we conduct this examination, providing a standard against which we measure our spiritual journey.

As we dive into the pages of the Bible, we encounter a reservoir of wisdom. Each verse, each narrative, holds the potential to transform our understanding of faith and guide the character of our devotional conversation. The act of personally handling these words is akin to holding the keys to our destiny, unlocking the door to a deeper, more meaningful connection with the Bible’s mind and personality.

To truly shape the destiny of our devotional conversation, we must engage in a philosophical exploration of the conversation’s self. How do our beliefs influence our actions? Are we walking in alignment with the principles laid out in the Bible? These questions form the foundation of the examination process, encouraging us to ponder the very essence of our spiritual existence.

Our devotional conversation is destined for a unique and transformative experience. It is through the examination of self, guided by the wisdom retained from the Bible, that we unlock the true potential of this journey. The Bible serves not only as a source of knowledge but as a catalyst for self-discovery, inviting us to confront our doubts, strengthen our convictions, and deepen our connection with it.

In examining ourselves, we cultivate authentic faith. This is what the Bible is after. We move beyond mere adherence to religious practices and rituals, advancing into the living truths that shape our spiritual identity. The destiny of our devotional conversation lies in our willingness to engage in this introspective journey, armed with the wisdom bestowed by the Bible.

Let the Bible in. The shaping of our devotional conversation is a deeply personal and intentional process. By handling and exercising the words of the Bible, we embark on a journey of self-examination that not only defines our faith but also shapes the destiny of our spiritual experience. As we heed Paul's call to "prove your own selves," we unlock the transformative power within, paving the way for an authentic and enriching devotional journey.

Righteousness

What is "righteousness"?

This seems like a question with an easy answer, and yet, the answer may not be so simple. It may not be so simple to answer because we have an automatic response to what we think righteousness is. Just like a freezer freezes, and just like a grill grills, we "know" "righteousness" from "righteousness," but what exactly is, according to the Bible, "righteousness"?

There are some key sayings to let us into the secret of the meaning behind "righteousness": the first, "He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment," Psalm 72:2; the second, "Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep," Psalm 36:6; the third, "In thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness," Psalm 143:1; the fourth, "The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen," Psalm 98:2.

The above sayings link "righteousness" to "judgment," to "faithfulness," and to "salvation," making it fair to conclude that "righteousness" is actually an act of the living God, or is an expression from the living God. This "act" or this "expression" is actually the underlying fact of the Bible's philosophy, which "underlying fact" is "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man," Titus 3:4.

The living God has a truly noble intention for the human being, and depending on what you believe, the foundation of that intention, when learning of that actual intention from within the Bible, can get quite murky. This is usually where most find discomfort, because when learning that the living God's intention is not the intention assigned to the living God by traditional religion, or by traditional theological theory, the atmosphere becomes cringeworthy.

And rightly so, because according to the Bible, the "kindness" that the living God has for us is not actually for "us." Taking the Bible at its own word, that "God is a Spirit," John 4:24, because it says, "That which is born of the Spirit is spirit," John 4:24, the beneficiary of that "kindness" is the "body" most like "God's.” Having no physical or natural form, that "kindness" is also for that body having no physical or natural form. This is why it says, "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind," Ephesians 4:23.

Seeing the Bible link "righteousness" to a judgment, to a faithfulness, and to a salvation now makes sense. "Righteousness" is but a term or an epithet for an act. This "act" is understood or experienced through a "judgment" echoing the Bible's intended "salvation." To the Bible, a "judgment" is a law, doctrine, or commandment. This is seen from how it says, "A law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people," Isaiah 51:4, and, "He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law," Isaiah 42:4.

Can you remember how the author of the book of John writes that their main character said, "For judgment I am come into this world," John 9:39, and, "I am the light of the world," John 9:5? The author, in proper context, is not writing that their main character, in a self-centered and self-righteous way, declared himself to be worshipped. Harping back to the book of Isaiah, it is understood that the man confessed his speech, that "law" or "judgment" of his ministry, to be that "light." The "light" that he preached and demonstrated was the living God's "righteousness," which is why he is written of as saying, "The kingdom of God is within you," Luke 17:21.

Why does any of this matter?

All of this matters because if we can care for the condition of our faith in the way that the living God does, then we can experience the intention of the living God's "kindness." The "kindness" or the "righteousness" of the Mind inspiring the Bible is the immediate wellbeing of our conversation's thoughts and feelings. The "light" that his chief apostle taught is to be our main study so that we may know the expression of the Creator's love towards us. When we know that expression, we will not only treat our self well, but also others.

Seeing The Unseen

“They” say that love is blind. Is this true? While we may not know how or why “love” works, and when “love” works, we definitely accept its mystery within our life. How is that we then see and acknowledge what we can’t even understand? How do we, when it comes to our faith, care for what we cannot see?

This question is at the heart of "religion," who would convince its participant that through doing laws of deeds, belief, and acts, we care for the "body" that cannot be seen. But is this, to the Bible, the way to care for our faith's body? If this is the correct approach, then it should not say, "If righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain," Galatians 2:21.

This quoted passage answers our question. By applying our faith to "righteousness," we are able to properly care for it. But, in this context, what is "righteousness"? This quoted passage states that "righteousness" is thought to be defined by religious laws (by rituals, by policies, by theories, by rites, by ceremonies), and by defining "righteousness" to be by religious laws, the author of the passage also cites how this devotional approach is not the accepted definition of righteousness.

If this manner of worship and service is taken to be an acceptable form of righteousness, then the living God's chief apostle has willingly given himself to death for nothing. Isn't this bold to say? Should we look around, we would see our traditional religious heritage doing what the author of the book of Galatians advises against. And it is not only the author of the book of Galatians that thinks this way, but the author of the book of Matthew also shows their main character maintained the same stance. They write:

"I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven," Matthew 5:20.

What is the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees? It says, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition," Mark 7:9, and, "This people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men," Isaiah 29:13. Their “righteousness” is the execution of traditional religious law for supposed divine favor.

So then it is true! Maintaining our faith by religious laws and policies, or by religious tradition, is actually a form of devotion the Bible does not support. This form of devotion is unhealthy because by physically stimulating the conversation, the feeling of devotion is given, convincing the person that they are, through the routine, favored. According to the Bible, this act is wrong.

What is contrary to the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees? What is contrary to maintaining the routine of traditional religious thought and feeling? It says, "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind," Romans 12:2, and, "Concerning the work of my hands command ye me," Isaiah 45:11, and, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom," Psalm 111:10.

We care for our spiritual body by feeding it spiritual food. The food for the body of our faith is the wisdom we retain from commanding the living God to prove the scriptures to us. Yes, you can demand proof of the Creator's work! Yes, the living God expects us to question and to interact with the scriptures! Yes, we have the right to confront the living God about what we are personally and devotionally going through! All of this is expected of us.

So, we will fight with our brother or sister for respect, but we will not argue with the living God? We will fuss with our spouse, our associate, our friend, or our partner, but we are afraid to quarrel with the living God? Does that make sense?

"Let me not fuss with God then," we think. "Let me either commit myself to the ritual and silently please the God I'm too afraid to commune with, or let me drop the act altogether and hate the one I need to argue with," we continue. Does this make sense? Instead of turning to the Initiator of our experience, we run and hide in our self or in the conscience of another human being. Does this make sense?

True care for our faith is shown in how we argue with the living God. And yes, there is no actual figure or person to argue with, but that doesn't mean it is not possible. We argue with the living God by patiently, temperately, silently, and privately arguing with what is written in the scriptures. "Care," to the Bible's mind, is shown through exercising our mental faculties on what troubles us. Should we do this, it will be said of us, "The LORD hath loved him," Isaiah 48:14.