“All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."
John 14:25-26 (NIV)
Though we didn't attend church growing up, I knew the Bible was special. After my parents’ divorce, I would place my Bible under my pillow for protection from nightmares. I'd read Jesus' words in red, though rarely in context. I quoted his words in my high school yearbook: "You will leave me all alone, yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me." I didn't truly understand the Scripture. Sadly, it was more about me than Jesus.
Sometimes we approach the Word of God seeking truth for ourselves instead of the truth of God. But even then, he meets us where we are.
In Acts 8, the disciple Philip is sent by God to the chariot of an Ethiopian eunuch reading from the Book of Isaiah. He asks Philip, "Is this referring to the prophet himself or someone else? How can I understand if no one explains it to me?"
The words he read were: "He was shamed and treated unfairly. He died without children to continue his family." Did this verse strike a personal chord? Perhaps. Regardless of the man's intention, the Lord rewarded his seeking heart by providing a teacher to explain that this Scripture had been fulfilled by Jesus. The Gospel was shared, and the Ethiopian was baptized upon believing.
As believers, new or old, when we seek God in his Word, we, too, have a teacher, the Holy Spirit, who meets us in the pages and reveals God's truth. A passage we've read a hundred times can seem new. As Christmas approaches, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes to new revelation about Jesus and open the Word daily with joyful expectation.
Reflect
- Have you ever read a Bible passage that suddenly took on new meaning and gave you new understanding?
- Do you open your Bible seeking to know the truth of God, wisdom for your life, or both?
Share Your Blessing
- Find a way to share the gift of clear vision to others. Donate your old eyeglasses to your local Lions Club or Lenscrafters, or select a charity that works with vision such as the Himalayan Cataract Project.
- Leave a small gift on a neighbor’s doorstep with an encouraging note, add a scripture that is meaningful to you.
REDISCOVER THE WONDER OF CHRISTMAS
