Hello! I am Jon Paulien and I’m glad you came to this page to check out my work. I am a New Testament scholar and Professor of Religion at Loma Linda University. On this website you will find a collection of my articles, commentary on Revelation, and links to my blog, videos, and other resources. Make sure you check the articles link above regularly to see the latest postings. In my hand above is an exact replica of p52, the earliest extant New Testament manuscript fragment, containing portions of John, chapter 18. Centered above my head is a replica of ancient Greek pottery. At either end above are two sets of books from, and about, my favorite spiritual author, Ellen G. White. I hope you enjoy the site.

Daily Devotional For March 26, 2026

View in the Daily Devotional Index

I counsel you to buy from me gold purified in the fire, in order that you might be rich, and white garments, in order that you might be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness might not be revealed, and eye salve to anoint your eyes, in order that you might see. Rev 3:18.

           The gold purified in the fire represents the kind of faith that lasts to the end. Is that kind of faith solely a gift from God or are some practical ways to increase one’s faith? I believe that faith is primarily a gift, but there are also some things we can do to increase our faith.
           When I was working on my doctorate, I spent the majority of my waking hours at a small desk in the library. While the general atmosphere of the library was quiet, there were times, in our little corner, when vigorous discussions would take place among two or three doctoral students. During one of those times a colleague shocked me to the core. He had worked many years as a pastor outside of North America. He told me that where he came from the number one topic of discussion among ministers was whether or not God exists! I don’t share this to poke fun or vent my horror, but simply to point out that maintaining a living walk with God in the midst of a secular, technological age is no easy matter. We live in a time of spiritual crisis.
           In the Western world this spiritual crisis particularly afflicts those that grew up in the turmoil of the 1960s, along with their children. Many things that had been handed down as certainties have proven to be questionable in fact. Some things that were taught as “God’s truth” seem to have been more about keeping certain people in power. As a result, my generation has felt betrayed, and has tended to lay everything open to question.
           The advent of computer technology and the Internet has fundamentally changed the way people think and reason. The speed and complexity of life have accelerated rapidly. Nothing seems stable anymore. Jobs are “downsized” the minute your salary becomes comfortable. Where you live seems subject to chance more than intention. As a result, extended families have been ripped apart.
           In these challenging times we need to consciously and intentionally cultivate a relationship with God. One of the best ways to do this is to talk about it. Talk about it often and in a wide variety of contexts. Faith is strengthened when we share it. In the words of Ellen White, “Talk faith and you will have more faith.”¹ Spend time with people who are full of faith. Every day remind yourself to accept the gold that Jesus offers and allow the circumstances of life to polish that gold into an enduring luster.

           Lord, in the busyness of the urgent it is so easy to live from hour to hour without reference to You. I want to keep You at the center of attention today. Increase my faith.

¹ Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press, 1905), 250.