Twitter. Facebook. Podcasts. In mere seconds, we can receive biblical truths from around the globe. We can worship with our favorite worship bands and gain insight into life’s toughest problems from the latest speakers and writers. Never has the Word been so accessible at any given moment. While this level of information offers ever-expanding opportunities for spiritual growth, our hope does not rest in technology or the words of man, but in the living Word.

I understand the seeming hypocrisy in my words. In no way do I intend to diminish the power of sharing our struggles, thoughts, or victories throughout our Christian journey. Furthermore, technology can be a powerful tool in that process. However, as the church, we need to challenge one another to make sure our eyes are on the Source and not the messengers.

In admonishing the Corinthian church, the apostle Paul pointed out the areas where we must stay focused in learning from those around us: Our maturity should not be determined by the people we know or profess to follow, but by the evidence of the Word becoming active in our lives (1 Corinthians 3:2-3); God is the author and finisher of our faith; we are the vessels through which God works (1 Corinthians 3:6-9). God, not man, defines what is eternal and worthy of preservation. So our efforts should be for His glory and not for our own (1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

The way to live out these truths is not to isolate ourselves from others’ ideas (Proverbs 18:1-2). God’s Word even tells us to follow the positive examples of other believers in our pursuit of Christ (1 Corinthians 4:15-16). But most of all, we need to remember that “Christ in [us], the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27 NIV) is the light the world so desperately needs.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 41:1-36