Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. Luke 24:45
Last evening we saw Jesus opening Scripture; here see Him opening the understanding. In the first work He has many fellow-laborers, but in the second He stands alone. Many people can bring the Scriptures to mind, but only the Lord can prepare the mind to receive those Scriptures. Our Lord Jesus differs from all other teachers—they reach the ear, but He instructs the heart; they deal with the actual words, but He imparts a taste for the truth, by which we perceive Scripture’s quality and spirit. When the Lord Jesus, by his Holy Spirit, unfolds the mysteries of the kingdom, the most unlearned people become advanced scholars in the school of grace. The Lord grants the divine anointing by which we are able to see the invisible. How happy we are if we have had our understanding strengthened by the Master! How many people of profound learning are ignorant of eternal things! They can read the words of revelation, but they cannot discern their spirit. These people have a veil over their hearts which the eyes of human reason cannot penetrate. Such was our own case not long ago. We who now see were once utterly blind; truth was to us as beauty in the dark, a thing unnoticed and neglected. Had it not been for the love of Jesus, we would have remained to this moment in utter ignorance—for without Him graciously opening our understanding, we could no more have gained spiritual knowledge than an infant could climb the pyramids or an ostrich fly to the stars. Jesus’s college is the only one in which God’s truth can really be learned. Other schools may teach us what to believe, but Christ’s alone can show us how to believe it. Let us sit at the feet of Jesus, earnestly praying for His aid—that our dull minds may grow brighter and our feeble understanding able to receive heavenly things. - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
Until and unless we are willing and ready to be taught of God, we won't be.
Until and unless we are willing and ready to listen to God, we won't hear.
Until and unless we are willing and ready and want what God wants for us, we will miss out on what life is all about.
Looking at the growth of the Disciples we can see them going from being chosen by God to all those things just mentioned. Only 1 didn't get it.
When we maintain the idea that the things of this world are more important than our walk with God we will have trouble.
When family, friends, work, hobbies, anything or anyone is more important than your relationship with Jesus, then it's in your way to a right relationship with Jesus. You cannot love others as Christ loved the Church until the Spirit is within you, and is teaching you how to do that from God's perspective. You have to let go of you to learn what it means to be like Christ. Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Christ.
It's not easy to deny yourself. Wants and desires are a constant drip throughout your day. Constantly vying for your attention. Soft whispers of suggestion that don't go away. None ever shout at you for your attention. They always say just enough to make you strain to hear the rest.
But once you begin to be a listener, when you really become a student, being taught of God is unlike anything else in this life.
I have been blessed to know a great many Godly men in my life. Some have entered into the promised rest of God. I have also known imposters, who are nothing more than the hired hands that Jesus warned us of. As Jesus taught, you shall know them by their fruits.
Both have taught me many things. But the Spirit is the one who has been the real teacher. Eye has not seen nor ear has heard nor has it entered the heart of man all that the Lord has prepared for them. 1 Corinthians 2:9.
I recently saw a post that was simple but profound. The person was supposedly talking to God about needing to hold His hand and asking Him to do that for them. He tells them no. He will hold their hand though. They said they didn't understand. He explained that if it's me doing the holding the risk is great that something would cause me to let go. If He is the one holding my hand, He will never let go.
We are bombarded with billions of things, ideas, notions, myths, desires, fantasies trying in all reality to do one thing if we see the truth...that one thing is to keep us from hearing the Word of God. To hear the truth of God. To know the love of God.
The reason why the Jewish leaders hated Jesus so much was ironic. He exposed their deeds of darkness. They were also blinded by the unwavering brilliance of His light. While in darkness they were content with their sin. When Jesus was near His light exposed them. They both saw their wretched state and wanted Him to go away so that they could maintain their ignorance of life. They loved the darkness. They didn't want to see.
Thing is...once Jesus conquered sin, death and the grave...nobody either among the dead or the living will ever escape being exposed to His light.
In this world now we have the opportunity to become children of God, children of the light. Those who have not come to Christ will have a problem with us because we reflect the light of Christ. Jesus said the world hated Him because He testified to the truth about man. He said the world hated Me, it will hate you too.
Both sadly and interestingly this hatred is being played out in this world in an ever more visible form each day. Blind rage and hatred is consuming great swaths of this world. The rage makes no sense to those who are not part of that rage. What makes sense is cast aside.
As long as Spiritual eyes are unwilling to see then hearts will not be taught of God.
I have seen and have had my eyes opened to many things in my life that I never would have thought possible all because God never let go of my hand. I, like Paul, could tell you great and wonderful things but they were for me to know and experience. I cannot fully put them into words.
Seek Jesus today while it is still today.
Seek to be taught of God if you are a Child of God. Let go of what you think is important in this world and ask Jesus to show you what is important to Him.
Open your Spiritual eyes and see the world as you have never seen it before.
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