Read the Bible or a Daily Devotional?

One reason I wanted to become a writer is that I enjoy reading daily devotionals. Yet sometimes I feel something is missing from the discussion. When that happens, I usually examine it more carefully in the Bible. The goal is to dig into what God means, understand an event, or look for how the theme connects with other verses or chapters. 

This made me realize, reading the Bible is different from reading a daily devotional. So, what is the difference? Is it wrong if we enjoy reading daily devotionals?

The Advantages of Reading God's Word Directly

Reading a daily devotional is good and beneficial. We gain spiritual insight from the devotional writer, inspiration about what God says through His Word. We can also learn from the devotional writer's life experiences, about the lives of spiritual figures, events we may not have known were in the Bible, and so on. 

Psalm 1:1-3 says: 

Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, who does not stand in the way of sinners, and who does not sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on it day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither; whatever he does prospers.

So, it is wonderful if you enjoy reading daily devotionals, but it is far better if you also diligently read the Bible. 

These are the things you can gain from reading the Bible directly: 

Understanding an Event as a Whole

When reading a daily devotional, we tend to simply accept it at face value. After getting a bit of insight from the writer, we are reluctant to explore the theme further. In fact, devotional readings usually discuss only one or two related chapters. We do not have the opportunity to see a whole chain of events from beginning to end. As a result, we miss other lessons from the story, or perhaps misunderstand its spiritual meaning.

Let us take an example from a devotional reading about Jacob reconciling with Esau (Genesis 33:1-20). The theme is mutual forgiveness. If we only read the devotional, we may be confused: what relevance does the history of these two brothers have to our lives? Perhaps we think, "Oh, if you're wrong, just apologize. Done."

However, by reading the previous chapters of the Bible, we will know the sequence of events that damaged Jacob and Esau's relationship. We learn that in order to get the birthright, Jacob deceived Esau and their father, Isaac, by pretending to be Esau. We then understand how angry Esau was for not receiving Isaac's blessing, so he planned to kill Jacob after the period of mourning for their father's death was over.

By seeing the big picture of this story, we can learn many things. For example, how difficult it was for Jacob to meet Esau and ask for forgiveness. How would it feel if you were told to go to someone who wanted to kill you and ask for forgiveness? Could you do what Jacob did, overcome your fear, and go make peace with your enemy? Could you forgive someone who wronged you, as Esau forgave Jacob? 

Reading the Bible gives you the opportunity to learn more and grow. For example, "Wow, even Jacob tried to make peace with someone who intended to kill him. Surely I too can make peace and forgive others who may not intend to kill me.

Receiving Complete Spiritual “Nutrition”

You are good and do good; teach me Your statutes. -Psalm 119:68

Which would you choose: naturally nutritious food or something processed? If you want complete nutrition, for example fresh coconut water, you need to make an effort. You have to find a coconut seller, or crack open a coconut yourself to get to the water. Or, you can just buy instant packaged coconut water. It is certainly easier, but its nutrition has already been measured according to the producer's standards; it is not 100% exactly pure coconut water.

Naturally complete nutritious food is the Bible. Getting “nutrition” from the Bible does take effort, because you have to dig and dig deeper so that you can understand. 

Reading a daily devotional is like eating processed food. The devotional writer only shares what he or she has learned from the Bible. Let us say the writer only writes down 10% of that insight, then you only receive a maximum benefit of 10%. However, by reading the Bible, you will receive complete spiritual “nutrition” because its words come from God, not from human processing. 

This does not mean you should not read sources other than the Bible. I personally gain a lot of new knowledge through daily devotionals, spiritual articles, books, and spiritual writings spread across the internet. However, none of those can replace the Bible. Our “main course” remains God's Word. The side dishes, you can get from anywhere. 

At first, you may feel burdened because you have to make extra effort in digging out the benefits of God's Word. Do not worry. You can ask your spiritual mentor for help, or contact us through the contact information below this article. There is no need to be ashamed if what you are learning still feels simple. That is the first step of your personal journey with God, which we will discuss in the next point. 

Having a Personal Journey with God

We may be confident that the writers of daily devotionals read the Bible quite often and, to some extent, have a personal relationship with God. Only then can they share inspiration with their readers. Praise God, we can see how God loves them and works in their lives.

On the other hand, as devotional readers, we too must build a personal journey with God. We need to witness for ourselves how the Word of God that we put into practice works through the struggles of life that we face and overcome. If we do not like or rarely read the Bible, it is hard for us to have a personal journey with God. We will think and act according to our own thinking, not according to His Word.

I had heard of You only by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. - Job 42:5

Job is one of the Bible figures who had a personal journey with God. He once experienced the pleasure of being a rich man who had everything. He also knew what it was like to be sick, to be destitute, and to lose everything except his life. And in all the ups and downs of his life, Job remained faithful to God.

Reading the Bible helps us know God not based on other people's opinions, but through our own observation. We experience for ourselves how God's Word strengthens us, opens our minds, and provides solutions for facing life's challenges. In the end, we understand that no matter how heavy or difficult the problem is, we still want to remain faithful to Him.

Come, let us make a habit of reading the Bible directly, not only through daily devotionals. That way, we can dig out inspiration thoroughly, receive complete spiritual nourishment, and build a personal journey with God. Amen!

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