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By April J. Buchanan | Religion Columnist

I don’t much care for devotions. I used to love them. I don’t dislike them and I do occasion the ones that sit comfortably on my bookshelf by some of my favorite authors.

Perhaps I should say, I don’t prefer devotions. But why? They are helpful short reads that fit nicely into an overwhelmed schedule. And if the book is vetted and the author is trusted then not as much time is necessary to make sure that isolated verse is properly used.

I used to love devotions; especially, those that dominate “Christian” bookshelves. The popular ones. The ones where you’re most likely not to find one by Charles Spurgeon, or the Puritans or any of those other “dead guys”. No, only the newest and most popular by those who claim to hear directly from God like the late Sarah Young or others who understood how you felt and spoke to your felt needs. Oh boy. I’d already dove off the deep end, was drowning in bad theology and I had no idea.

Most “Christian” bookshelves carry the newest and most popular books by some of the most dangerous false teachers – some of which are heretics. The books that sell are the ones that dominate their shelves. They are not vetted for you!

Have you ever looked at your table and there sat your devotion and there sat your Bible and grabbed your devotion? Why? I’m not saying it’s wrong to read devotionals. There are some good ones. But do we become dependent on what is quick or are we careful in what we read? How much of our time is spent away from our Bibles and given to other books: even good ones?

When we go to any store that carries “Christian” books are we careful to test what they are saying against the Word of God? Are they claiming new revelation that makes you feel like you must have their book or you’re missing out on what God is saying? How is that then not supposed to be added to Scripture? You see the danger? Are they making promises on behalf of God that He hasn’t said but you desire Him to say? Are they encouraging you to trust or look within yourself or are they helping you learn more about Christ and pointing you back to the sufficiency of Scripture? Are they using God to tell you what you want to hear? Is the book all about you and your felt needs? Is the only thing you are learning about God is what props you up and makes you the hero or victim? Is what you are learning about God true?

Before we grab the next most popular, must-have “Christian” book by preachers who are wildly popular, let us first examine our own understanding of how to study our Bible and as a result be able to test all things according to sound doctrine.

I love to read and would never discourage anyone from reading, however, we must be careful what we read and how it informs what we believe about God.

Grace and Peace

Soli Deo Gloria