Going through seminary, students are taught to study the Bible and uphold its doctrines about God while also being encouraged not to neglect their devotional times with God. Yet during my own devotional time I, and probably many others, often asked myself, “Is this the best way to grow spiritually, or is there a better way? What could I do differently? Should I incorporate my studies with my devotions?”
In this series I ask a different scholar two questions about how he or she spends time with the Lord and continues to love him with all their mind, strength, and heart. While no one method or style is “the only way,” we can draw on one another’s experiences.
This week I have asked Dr. Jeffrey Niehaus if he would share his thoughts with us.
1. How do you spend your devotional time with the Lord?
I spend my devotional time reading Scripture – variously in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, German, English, and then praying, mostly intercessory prayer.
2. How do you practically seek to deepen your love for Christ?
The most practical thing I do to deepen my love for Christ is this: I invite the Spirit to come and work in me, and destroy everything that is not of Christ, and form Christ in me.
Dr. Jeffrey Niehaus is Senior Professor of Old Testament at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has written God at Sinai, Ancient Near Eastern Themes in Biblical Theology, three Biblical Theological books on the biblical covenants: volumes 1, 2, and 3, and a book on biblical poetry.
Thank you, Dr. Niehaus!
Other Scholars’ Devotions
- Andrew Abernethy
- Michael Bird
- Craig Blomberg
- Darrell Bock
- Gerry Breshears
- Denny Burk
- Andrew Das
- Stephen Dempster
- Jason DeRouchie
- Kyle Dunham
- James Edwards
- Matthew Emerson
- David Firth
- Stephen Fowl
- Norman Geisler
- Ben Gladd
- Joel Green
- Sigurd Grindheim
- Robert Gundry
- Nijay Gupta
- Jim Hamilton
- Matthew Harmon
- Charles Lee Irons
- Dru Johnson (a fan favorite)
- Dru Johnson Redux (the extended edition)
- Craig Keener
- Edward (Mickey) Klink
- Melissa Kruger
- Tremper Longman
- Ernest Lucas
- Ken Magnuson
- David Moffitt
- Jonathan Moo
- B. J. Oropeza
- Amy Peeler
- Nicholas Perrin
- Patrick Schreiner
- Tom Schreiner
- Brandon Smith
- Douglas Stuart
- Frank Thielman
- Robert Wall
- Bruce Ware
- Rikk Watts
- Trevin Wax
- Cynthia Long Westfall
- Ben Witherington
- Kevin Youngblood
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