Some years ago, I was innocently telling my pastor that I thought my “gift” or talent, if you will, (as in gifts to use in the body of Christ) was the ability to write, especially on Biblical topics. He said, “Oh, you want to write devotionals?” I think I stuttered a bit, trying to figure out how to explain to him what I meant, but the conversation turned quickly and I was left crestfallen. It was as if, because I was not in a position of authority, and because I am a woman, that my gift was reduced to just writing devotionals. What I wanted to tell this pastor, was that my writing style is Biblical exegesis. 1(The definition of exegesis is the critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially of scripture. Put simply, it is the process of discovering the original and intended meaning of a passage of scripture. When considering the importance of knowing truth, exegetical theology is vitally important) https://seminary.grace.edu/what-is-exegetical-study-and-how-can-you-use-it/#:~:text=The%20definition%20of%20exegesis%20is,exegetical%20theology%20is%20vitally%20important. Looking back, I don’t think he would have accepted that notion.
Why am I visiting this subject now? Because I still question whether I am just wasting my time studying the deeper things of the Bible and endeavoring to write essays based on my studies. Does it help the body of Christ? Does it matter in the end? Aren’t Christians happy with their daily “devotions?” It is this type of thinking that has made me feel quite lonely. I wonder where I fit in. Maybe the pastor was right. There is no place for a woman writer who thinks she can exegete the Bible.
Lest I get too discouraged, I will explore the problem further.
Devotionals. What does that even mean? And who reads them and why?
To quote Ashley at FaithfullyPlanted.com:
- Devotionals are works by someone else that take a verse or passage and pulls application, meaning, or teaching out to share with others. This could be a devotional book, a social media post, an email, video or other forms of content. The big key of a devotional is that the ideas are being given to you by someone else and usually, the Scripture reading or verse is a small percentage of what you’re reading.
Personally I have never gotten much out of reading devotionals. The ideas are simple common sense, the verses are taken out of context, they are someone else’s experience, and they don’t add much to my Biblical knowledge. I know people who DO read them. Which is okay. But, they use devotionals IN PLACE of bible study! 2After I published this post I came across an article in Christianity today that explained this concept in greater detail. The authors, Dru Johnson and Celina Durgin titled the article: Is It Time to Quit ‘Quiet Time’? Effective biblical engagement must be about more than one’s personal experience with Scripture. Quiet time is a phrase I have never liked. It sounds childish, even demeaning. Here is the link to the article. https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/april/quit-quiet-time-devotions-bible-literacy-reading-scripture.html.
Ashely at FaithfullyPlanted.com also defines bible study:
- Personal Bible study is when you read and observe a whole passage, chapter or book and seek to gain understanding, meaning, insight or application for yourself. While Bible studies may also include outside teaching or resources, the idea of a study requires action and effort on the part of the studier, with any teaching or outside resource being a supplement and not the focus.. . . . . An important marker of a true Bible study is that it requires study on your part. It requires critical, deep thinking about the text and generally requires more reading than just a verse or two.
For example, the essay I shared in an earlier post, called What is Sweeter Than Honey? took many hours a day of study for many weeks to fully get the message developed. It took reading the same passages (Old and New Testament) over and over and over, reading every cross reference over and over and over and thinking about it in waking and in sleeping.
How did I feel when the “light” flashed and I saw the revealed meaning in Scripture? Elated. Overjoyed. Exhilarated. My faith was increased as I recognized all the more how the Bible is inspired; Jesus Christ became more beautiful, more divine in my eyes.
Why is that important? Because, the more intimate we are with the Lord, the better we will be able to resist temptation; the more we will desire to live a Godly life; the less likely we will be to turn back. Our hope will be in Christ. (“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil”. Hebrews 6:19).
So, to answer my own question, it IS worth my time for my OWN SOUL. But is it useful for anyone else? The Apostles thought it important to expound on and explain the scriptures and the words of Jesus. In fact, the writer of Hebrews reprimanded his audience for not being mature in their knowledge of the Word. I can speculate on why American Christians go no further than the basics of Christianity, but that will be for another post.
I am still crestfallen that I have no place in my local church to share my so-called gift. But I will keep on doing what I feel I am called to do. Study the Word with all my heart. Amen.
