Being formed by the Scriptures: "Reading the bible the way Jesus intended"
Luke 24:45 “Then He opened their minds to understand the scriptures”
Throughout this whole Chapter we see many different people having a hard time dealing with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus then comes to them in different ways and often as they fellowship together there comes a moment of realization that it is Jesus in their midst. A lot of Jesus’ critique against them is that they do not believe the scriptures or still do not understand that He is the fulfillment of the scriptures. This verse caught my attention because throughout the chapter it is Jesus that opens up the mind of those He encounters and it is only when He acts that they are able to believe. There is no way for them to understand the scriptures unless they allow God’s grace to teach them.
I wonder how often we remember this truth as we study the scriptures. How often do we begin with being reminded that we will only understand the scriptures through the help of God’s grace. Responding to God’s grace is so crucial for my faithfulness that the only way scripture will effectively shape my discipleship is if I respond to God’s grace to help me understand the scriptures I read. If I do not ask Jesus to open my mind to understand the scriptures then the sin of my life will certainly manipulate my reading into an interpretation that is missing the mark. But by allowing Jesus to open my mind in reading the scripture I come to an interpretation that continues to point me to a greater truth grounded in the love of God that is demonstrated through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When this happens I realize that scripture is not to be read for information but that the searching of the scriptures is a means of grace from which God forms my life into a greater level of faithfulness.
Lord Jesus, thank you today for going to the cross in my stead and freeing me from the penalty of my sin. I thank you for going above and beyond this forgiveness and through this forgiveness offering me a new life that is grounded upon your saving grace. Thank you for opening up the mystery of scripture and teaching me that the deepest truth of scripture is to be a tool for you to form me into your likeness. May you continue to open up the scriptures to me; may you use my searching of the scripture as a means of grace to teach me about the greater truths of the faith. Protect me from any temptation to study the scripture for information but may I search your word that the Holy Spirit may continue to form my life into your likeness. Thank you for this change of life; thank you for this opportunity; thank you for opening up your word to my life. Amen!!!
Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus opens up the scriptures to me that I may be formed into His likeness
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