Are You On The Wrong Spiritual Path?

What if you uncovered a secret so life-changing it forced you to rethink who you are? Picture it shifting the energy that drives you, like a storm clearing to reveal a new sky. What if you realized the path you thought was yours wasn’t meant for you at all? How would you respond? Would you hold tight to what’s familiar, or step boldly into the unknown?

The Bible holds truths that sometimes require effort to uncover—verses to study, translate, and reflect on deeply. But other truths sit right in front of us, missed not because they’re hidden, but because we’re not paying attention. In those cases, the “secret” isn’t a secret at all; it’s our own failure to see what’s clear.

Take two verses that reveal something profound about how people chase knowledge, especially in religious circles. Ecclesiastes 3:10-11 says: “I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” The writer of Ecclesiastes dove into the ways of the world (religious world), lived like those (priests) around him, and wrote about it. He saw that many people (priests) are given a heavy task by God: a restless drive to understand life, but only within the limits of what’s earthly, never grasping the full scope of the living God’s work.

Who are these “sons of men”? The phrase isn’t about literal sons. Hebrews 5:1 explains: “For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God.” This points to a spiritual lineage, not a family tree. In Titus 1:4, Paul calls Titus “mine own son after the common faith,” and in 1 Timothy 1:2, he refers to Timothy as “my own son in the faith.” Here, “son” means someone shaped by another’s teachings, like a mentor passing down beliefs. Proverbs 29:21 adds: “He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become his son at the length.” The “sons of men” are priests or ministers trained by human institutions; think seminaries or universities; carrying ideas rooted in human thought, not in the Bible’s actual fact.

The writer of Ecclesiastes lived among them, adopted their ways, and recorded his findings in the book. He discovered they carry a kind of curse, as Ecclesiastes 1:13 puts it: “I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith.” Their curse is a fixation on understanding only what fits within their religious or intellectual world, unable to see beyond it. Their minds stay trapped, chasing answers that never reach the bigger picture. This, according to the Bible, is their gift.

Why does the Bible call this out? It’s not just criticism; it’s a response. These “sons of men” turn away from the Bible’s true message, choosing instead to lean on and lead by human-made doctrines. They claim to speak from Scripture while twisting its meaning. This matters because their path isn’t ours to follow. After living their way, the writer of Ecclesiastes saw it was empty and concluded in Ecclesiastes 3:18: “I said in mine heart concerning the estate of the sons of men, that God might manifest them, and that they might see that they themselves are beasts.” Like animals driven by instinct, they stay stuck in their narrow ways, missing the wider truth.

We too can get caught up in their world, spending our time and energy on their ideas, repeating their patterns, letting their mindset shape our own. But real freedom comes from stepping away, rising above their limits. This isn’t about judgment; it’s about opportunity. By seeing what the Bible reveals, we can leave behind the “sons of men” and pursue an experience that’s more meaningful, one that connects us to the beauty within the scriptures,

So, what will you do with this truth now that you see it?

How Faith Learns: Embracing a Transformative Approach to Spiritual Growth

In our ever-evolving journey of personal devotional development, one crucial dialogue often overlooked is how our faith learns. If we place immense value on how we and our children learn, shouldn’t we apply the same level of care to the growth and understanding of our faith?

I was once a student, navigating the halls of elementary school and high school. Reflecting on those years, I recall the pervasive assumption that we inherently knew how to learn. The traditional educational model emphasized memorization—a useful tool for passing exams or completing assignments, but not conducive to lifelong or self-regulated learning.

Much of what we hold as beliefs isn't genuinely learned but memorized. This method, while seemingly efficient, often becomes our default learning strategy. Over time, it shapes our perception of knowledge, confining us to what is easily remembered rather than what is deeply understood. This superficial grasp leaves the true essence of knowledge unexplored.

Our faith should be treated as a living entity, much like a child. Just as we experience and learn through our thoughts and feelings, our faith needs to be nurtured through thoughtful engagement. Learning that incorporates both intellect and emotion fosters a deeper connection, allowing our faith to grow authentically. In contrast, rote memorization fails to engage the inward person, making learning feel like a burdensome task.

It's a common misconception that faith inherently knows all things. In reality, our faith often only knows what it has memorized. This method, rooted in discipline rather than understanding, limits the depth of our spiritual knowledge. The Bible speaks to this limitation: "And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know," (1 Corinthians 8:2).

The author writing to the Corinthians understood the flaws in the prevailing learning methods of their time. The Bible criticizes the so-called “learned” individuals who, despite their memorization skills, fail to grasp true wisdom: "The leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed," (Isaiah 9:16). This criticism highlights the need for a different learning approach, one that transcends mere memorization.

The Bible’s words remain sealed to conversations solely relying on memorization. To unlock the profound wisdom of the scriptures, a different learning method is required—one that involves making sense of the Bible's words through active engagement. This is encapsulated in the principle, "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little," (Isaiah 28:10).

The Bible advocates for a hands-on approach to learning: "Which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled…," (1 John 1:1). This method encourages us to seek wisdom and understanding actively: "I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things," (Ecclesiastes 7:25).

The Bible favors meditation over memorization as a learning strategy. Meditation involves a comprehensive approach to understanding and internalizing knowledge, leading to a more profound and lasting faith: "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly…But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night," (Psalm 1:1-2).

Memorization requires constant reminders and re-memorization to maintain belief. In contrast, meditation and active engagement with the scriptures infuse our faith with a living, breathing understanding: "I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people," (Jeremiah 31:33).

When memorization dominates our devotional conversations, it reflects an act of self, suggesting we are the architects of our belief. True belief is fostered by self-control. It acknowledges a higher power guiding our devotional journey: "There is no man that hath power over the spirit to retain the spirit," (Ecclesiastes 8:8).

Recognizing that our belief has a level of consciousness for character development is crucial. Every instance of controlling our faith stifles its growth. To allow our belief to flourish, we must embrace the Bible's method of learning—one that fosters an organic, self-sustaining growth without our interference.

It's time to move beyond a memorized faith and courageously build a foundation for a valid, living faith. By learning how to learn with our faith, we can nurture a deeper, more meaningful devotional journey. Let your faith breathe and grow, guided by understanding and meditation, rather than mere memorization.

Nurturing the Blossom of Wisdom: The Bible's Path to True Devotion

In the complex journey of spirituality, the Bible has long served as a source of wisdom and guidance. It offers us insights into life's deepest questions, revealing that true devotion transcends mere religious activity and routine. Instead, it invites us to allow the wisdom gained from its pages to blossom within, creating a transformative and lasting connection with its character.

The wisdom acquired from the Bible is not an isolated experience but is a vital force sustaining the devotional conversation. It goes beyond the rituals and actions often associated with religion, which seek to compel belief through coarse mental and physical stimulation. Instead, it encourages us to look inward, recognizing that genuine devotion occurs within the depths of our faith’s being.

The Bible doesn't just touch the surface of our existence; it moves deep into our essence, calling us to explore our inward person. This Bible’s wisdom is the foundation upon which our devotional journey is to be built.

Unlike traditional religious practices that may insist on external deeds or rituals, the Bible, despite how it appears on the surface, addresses wellbeing as something occurring within us. It teaches us that the devotional conversation has a partnership with its character—a waiting on the words of the Bible, allowing them to take root in the fertile soil of our faith’s heart and mind.

In this practice, there is no need to engage in elaborate ceremonies or repetitive actions. Instead, we are encouraged to turn our focus inward and let the wisdom within the Bible guide our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and actions. This is where the true essence of spirituality lies, beyond the constraints of religious routine and theory.

It's important to distinguish this practice from conventional religion. While religion may often require individuals to wait on a particular deed, theory, or act to feel engaged with their beliefs and experiences, the Bible's path to true devotion hinges on wisdom, not rituals.

The words of the Bible serve as a catalyst, sparking an internal transformation. They encourage us to examine our beliefs, question our motives, and cultivate compassion and love for all living minds. In doing so, we become active participants in our devotional journey, rather than passive observers of religious routines.

True and pure religion, as the Bible exemplifies, is not a routine guided by the mind within the body. It is determined by the wisdom gained through a diligent exploration of the Bible's words. It's a deep, inner exploration that is both educational and inspiring.

In this endeavor, the Bible becomes more than a book of religious texts; it becomes a wellspring of wisdom that guides us on a transformative path toward true and sincere devotion. As we allow the wisdom within the Bible to blossom within our hearts and minds, we embark on a spiritual journey that is both profound and deeply personal.

Let us welcome the wisdom of the Bible into our lives, for it is through this wisdom that the blossom of true devotion unfolds—a devotion that goes beyond mere religious routine and enters into the realm of the Bible’s Mind, nurturing a deep and lasting connection within us that will serve to enrich not only our lives, but also the lives of those around us.