The Devotional to End All DevotionalsSample

To review, the CUT method is so named because it requires you to look at a passage of scripture three times before leaving it; once for Context, once for Understanding, and once for the application of Truth. 

When reading for understanding, ask yourself this question: “What does it mean?”

Begin by doing one or both of the following: 

1) Highlight or underline any phrases or words that stand out to you and circle any words or phrases that you don’t understand or are unclear. 

2) Paraphrase, or put the passage in your own words. If you have trouble, you’ll know where to start taking a closer look. 

Now, it’s time for detective work. Do any or all of the following for better understanding: 

1) If you remember reading or studying similar passages of scripture before, revisit them for clues. Journaling is very helpful in this process. 

2) Go to your trouble spots and look to see what commentaries have to say about them. If you own a study Bible, you might find helpful information and/or a list of related verses in the footnotes. Chase every lead that looks helpful. 

3) Look up unclear words or phrases in a concordance, Bible dictionary, or a topical index. 

Repeat this process until your curiosity is satisfied, but don’t worry if you don’t find the answers to all your questions immediately. God will teach you what you need to know when you need to know it. Just revisit those questions from time to time. 

Now for our lesson.

Because God the Father loves us and wanted us to worship Him, He sent His Son Jesus to rescue us. Because of that gift, we can be forgiven of our sin and become children of God ourselves. God is not just a good father. He is the good Father, perfect in the way He interacts with us. 

Read today’s passages for context and understanding. Then, because you haven’t learned the whole CUT method, go back and use either the God Follower or Target method to study the same passages. 

Thank God for making a way for you to become His child and for loving and disciplining you.