Friday Fight 146: The Best Source
Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF146.
How many of us have listened to great sermons, been excited about a new book, or even heard a podcast that completely changed our day? We are so enthusiastic about what we heard that we can't wait to share it with others. When we do, we act as secondary sources since we relay information with our interpretations or opinions. What do sources have to do with our spiritual lives?
The Best Source:
Thinking back to any area of education, high school or college, we all remember educators drilling the importance of having sources for documenting claims or information used in various assignments. Let's look at two types of sources separated by their value and reliability. (i.e., Primary and Secondary). Primary sources are immediate, firsthand accounts of a topic, and secondary sources are an analysis or interpretation of a primary source. While this may feel like an English lesson, please don't stop reading!
I don't know about you, but I have found myself in different seasons full of podcasts, devotional books, and group bible studies. These add incredible value to our spiritual lives and the community God intended for us. But we must be mindful to also spend time alone with God. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness." This verse is an excellent reminder that we could unintentionally hinder our spiritual growth by only using these secondary sources as our spiritual nutrition. Eventually, groups will end, and the devotionals we once found intriguing will lose our interest. But God is there waiting for us and wants a personal relationship; He is the best source for everything! Let's not let the path of our spiritual direction be led only by the perspective of the podcast host or devotional writer. Listening to other perspectives is fantastic and a great way to fellowship, but these should never be the sole replacement for experiencing God ourselves firsthand.
The primary source, God's word and time with Him, is the most crucial and nourishing part of our spiritual health. Attending church, reading devotionals, and listening to podcasts are all beautiful tools but should be in addition to praying and reading God's word. God wants us to fellowship with others, but not let that time replace our time spent with Him. In addition to attending church and podcasts, are we seeking God from the best source, His word? Are we talking to Him but also walking in community with other believers? All of these contribute to our spiritual journey, but surviving on secondary sources alone is not what God desires for us. Please join me this week in reflecting on the source of our spiritual nourishment and what changes must be made to ensure we are adequately fed.
Pastor Shannon
New Life Calvert