Today’s Reading from the Five-Day Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 26-27, Mark 10

Occasionally, I hear from well-meaning believers that we should focus on Christ and not doctrinal matters, which some deem divisive. “Shouldn’t we bring people to Jesus and not one these issues that could drive people away from him?”

Yet, when Jesus was approached by many (disciples and religious leaders, specifically), He would respond with, “Have you not read…?” (such as part of our reading plan in Mark 10), or, in one instance, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).

Clarity on doctrinal matters (read: what Scripture says) is an effort to move closer to the heart and mind of Christ, not further away. Moving away from doctrinal matters is not moving to a higher plain of spirituality but a different plain altogether. Moving away from doctrinal and biblical clarity is an arrogance, believing that the individual is able, untethered from Scripture, to convey God’s heart.

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? I, the Lord, search the heart and test the mind” (Jeremiah 17:9-10a).

Beware of any motive that takes one away from Scripture–it is there you truly find God’s mind and heart.