Monday 19 August 2013

Open Our Understanding


Scripture: Luke 24 v 36 - 53.


This passage is Luke's record of Jesus' final conversation with His disciples before His ascension into Heaven. Jesus suddenly appeared in the midst of them as they were cooking some fish. They thought it was a ghost until He spoke to them and asked for food.

Jesus reminded them of all the words He had spoken to them that were written in the Old Testament concerning every aspect of His conception, birth, life, ministry and death.

In all there are 333 prophecies that were fulfilled by the life of Jesus Christ written over a span of 3000 years by many different people. The possibility that Jesus is not who He says He is, is in the multiple trillions. Take a ball the size ofr Earth and fill it with small white plastic balls; mix in one blue ball. What are the odds of finding that blue ball if you only had one chance of pulling it out? That is the same as Jesus not being the Son of Almighty God, our Saviour and Redeemer, the Messiah of the Jews, the Hope of salvation for mankind.

In verse 45 it says "Then opened He their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures."

It is very important that we understand the scriptures for it is our road map of life. We were lost in the dark on a lonely road before Jesus came into our hearts and shone His light on our path. He put the only right map in our hands, His Word, and gave us the directions for home.

If we read the map incorrectly we will remain lost in a wilderness of false doctrine and confusion of heart, so we need to ask Jesus to open our understanding to read His Word the way it was intended.

He ended this discourse by telling His disciples that He was sending the promise of the Father upon them, which is the power of the Holy Spirit, also known as the Paraclete ie One who comes alongside us to help us through all the twists and turns along our path.

The Holy Spirit conveys our prayers to the throne of God and brings the answers to us, He also helps us interpret and understand clearly the direction we should take. We do best on the road less travelled which is the strait and narrow way. On this path our unique personality is discovered and our relationship with the Father and Jesus grows abundantly.

If we understand the Word of God correctly and have a vibrant personal relationship with Him we will receive many gifts and revelations which can be used to bring others into the beautiful light of Jesus Christ. He enjoys our simplicity and childlikeness rather than our complicated superiority. So be humble before Him and He will raise you up to spiritual heights beyond your imagination.

Prayer: Heavenly Father thank You for Your Word, the Manufacturer's Handbook, please open the scriptures so we may perfectly understand Your will for us and obey it. In Jesus' name. Amen.