A Better Understanding

Luke 24:44-53

Children born into the world have fragile minds that are undeveloped and incapable of grasping the basics of life on their own. Therefore, proper teaching and guidance is essential for their long term development. Parents, teachers and others play a major role in helping children gain a better understanding of all aspects of learning including reading, writing, arithmetics, grooming, and proper behavior.

During my early years of childhood development, I despised reading, because it was hard for me to properly understand and comprehend the author’s philosophy, based on my own judgment. For this reason, I would barely receive passing grades on book reports, or reading comprehension assignments. Over time, I realized, if I would only pay more attention to the teacher’s explanation and in-depth elaboration on certain topics, it would open my understanding in areas I could never grasp on my own.

The same problem I struggled with as a child, trying to understand things without seeking the proper guidance, is what many babes in Christ deal with on a daily basis. Reading and studying the Scriptures can become a hard task, when doing so on human intellect alone, because there are spiritual aspects in the Word that can only be comprehended when the Holy Spirit opens one’s understanding. Even in our text, the disciples heard the words of Jesus, but He “opened their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures.” (vs. 45).

The purpose of the Holy Ghost is to bring back to our remembrance, the things Jesus taught, so that we can always be properly prepared to wrestle against evil forces, as well as conduct ourselves according to holiness and godliness daily. We can read and meditate on God’s Word with all sincerity and dedication, but we need His Spirit to open our understanding, so that what we read can make sense, then we can properly apply the Word in our daily living.

“Read to know, learn to grow.” – Ell

Response to God’s generosity

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

One of the easiest ways to understand a person’s character is, to monitor their response when something is either added to their life, or taken away. If someone randomly gave you ten million dollars, with no negative attachments, would that gift make you a better individual, or worse? Conversely, if your house got broken into, and all your valuable items stolen, would you become better, or bitter, after the incident? While it’s unfortunate bad things inevitably happen to good people, there’s always an opportunity for an individual to grow from every unfair experience they face in life. I’ve always been a firm believer, if a person is ungrateful without much, they’ll only get worse if they were to stumble upon a financial blessing, while those who are humble, and pure of heart without having much, will more than likely remain in the state of humility, if they were blessed with great increase.

The proper response to any blessing is, to give thanks to God, because He provides for every man on the earth, the necessities of life. While many live consistently, without giving thanks to God for all the many blessings He provides daily, the body of believers should never go a day without offering to God thanks and praise for EVERYTHING! “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Its God’s will that His people never forget that He alone, is their provider, and that they should offer continual praise and thanks for His awesome acts of goodness. Offering praise to God isn’t something that sprang up recently, but it has been practiced since the beginning of creation. There are even beings in Heaven that offer praise and worship to God on a continual basis. “And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Rev. 4:8-11). If heavenly beings offer perpetual thanks in response to God’s generosity, why can’t we? Everyone alive today, owes God a “thank you”, for simply allowing them to see another day. With all the plans, goals, ideas, and thoughts running through the minds of men, none of them would ever come into existence, except God first allow them life to bring those plans into fulfillment. Many people are so caught up in themselves, until they neglect the fact that they actually need God for literally everything.

Before you lay your head to rest tonight, count all the blessings that are in your life, then thank God for every one of them. “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” (Psalm 68:19)

Walk in love,

Ell

Mediator of the new covenant

Hebrews 8:1-12

Does God make mistakes? If not, then why is there so much trouble in the world? Fair question, but one of the best things God ever did was create living beings with the freedom to make their own decisions. Could you imagine what the world be like if everything was created as robots, to only do what God required, and nothing could willingly go against His commands? For one thing, there would definitely be peace and tranquility in the land, but Heaven and earth would be missing a sense of genuine authenticity that comes with the power of personal choice. God made everything, then called it good, and very good, but one being’s pride caused changes in God’s original plan for creation that continue to plague the world to this very day.

In an effort to unify God’s people to Himself, a covenant was established, whereby men were granted promises, but only if they obeyed what was written in the law. The first covenant wasn’t a mistake that God implemented, rather it had faults and had to be done away with, because although it helped men live according to a better standard, it didn’t provide salvation and eternal life. Where the first covenant’s laws were written on external sources, according to the new covenant, God put His laws into men’s hearts and minds. This is interesting on so many levels, because having God’s words written in your mind and heart eliminate all excuses as to not knowing what He expects from you. In addition, every man can know God for themselves, and it would be difficult for pride to overtake the minds of those who have full knowledge, and understanding of the will of God.

Unlike the first covenant which had no mediator, but priests who offered gifts and sacrifices to God, Christ Jesus, the Son of the true and living God, serves as the high priest, who offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice to God, so that the new covenant could be sustained forever. Jesus is indeed the everlasting high priest, and has made the only true atonement for man’s sins. It’s because of Christ, that no matter where a person is, or how bad their circumstances in life are, no one is too far that His grace cannot reach them, and His love can’t save them. Thank you Father for a new, and better covenant!

Walk in love,

Ell