Sermon: 8/9/26- Thursday's Devotional

Reading Scripture Honestly
Reading: 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalm 119:160; Proverbs 2:1-6

Every word of Scripture is God-breathed, which means none of it can be safely ignored, including the parts that make us uncomfortable. Many believers have been taught a collection of truths without being taught the reasoning behind them or how those truths connect to the character of God. When we encounter a difficult passage, the temptation is to skip past it, soften it, or explain it away. But the hard texts are where some of the deepest knowledge of God is found. If your reading of a passage seems to contradict something else in Scripture, the problem is not with Scripture. The invitation is to dig deeper.

Reflection: Is there a passage of Scripture you have avoided because it challenged your assumptions about God or about yourself? What would it look like to approach it honestly and with humility?

Practical Application: Choose one difficult or unfamiliar passage of Scripture this week. Read it in context, look at surrounding chapters, and ask what it reveals about God's nature rather than what it demands of your comfort.