I've wanted to find a devotional book to use to help myself stick to a schedule of reading from the Bible everyday, but there are so many out there!  Do you have specific books or authors that you feel follow the Bible well?  There seem to be so many out there that add so much of their own thoughts and opinions.

Sincerely,
Looking For Guidance

Dear Looking For Guidance,

With the New Year ringing in, it is a great time to make plans to reinvigorate your Bible study.  There are numerous books out there that are designed to give you a running commentary on the Bible, but if you want to keep it simple, we recommend a straightforward, yearly Bible reading plan.  There are numerous schedules that will take you through both the Old and New Testament in a year.  Probably the easiest way to do this is to go and buy a “daily Bible” that breaks the Bible into 365 chunks.  Here is a link to an example.  There are other books, such as Hailey’s Bible Handbook that work well to help reference things if you get confused… or you could always write in to us!  We also have classes available for download on every book of the Bible at mvchurchofchrist.org/sermons .  Overall, our advice would be to simply start reading your Bible on a regular basis and deal with the questions as they come.  There is nothing more wholesome or fulfilling than simply reading the text God wrote (1 Tim 4:13).

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

How do you know if you’re in love?

Sincerely,
Smitten

Dear Smitten,

The Bible never specifically addresses the issue of when people fall in love because that is something that naturally happens, and as the old saying goes, “When you know, you know”.  The only advice that the Bible gives regarding romantic love is to not force it.  Far too often, people are so desperate to be in love that they force themselves into unhealthy situations in the hopes that it will awaken love – the exact opposite of God’s advice (SS 2:7).

It is always worth remembering that even though attraction is foremost on the minds of many singles, what really matters is the quality and character of the person you are interested in.  What is their inner character like (1 Pet 3:4)?  Do they love the Lord more than all else (Matt 22:37)?  Are they honest in word and deed (1 Jn 3:18)?  These are the things that really matter.  When looking for love, look for it in the right places.  A godly mate will make you stronger, but an ungodly spouse will corrupt you (1 Cor 15:33).

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom

5 minutes a day 5 days a week - a year of Bible Wisdom