Clarity of Scriptures Is Provided by God

"No one can be a good Christian who does not with holy zeal set out to know, delight in, and live by the Word of God!"  - John R. Rice

There are times in our lives when things are so obvious to us they appear crystal clear. We might think of these instances as being a "no-brainer," or easily discerned. They are easy to work out or explain. We love it when everything falls in line!

Then, there are those times when this is not the case, at all. We may encounter a situation, or an event that presents itself in a not so bright light. Possible solutions seem confusing, cloudy, and even impossible. The going seems to get a little rougher at this point.

Making an intelligent, or reasonable choice is not so simple. Coming up with a wise judgment or resolution will require a lot more thoughtful consideration than merely selecting "A" or "B." This need for more diligent insight and understanding is also quite common in our Bible study and reading.

Are there any among us who hasn't felt lost and bewildered after reading a verse or passage in Scripture? You'd think that it would get easier the longer you've been at it, but it isn't. But, God doesn't do this to confound or frustrate us. Actually, it's quite the opposite.

God wants us to come to Him and ask for wisdom, clarity, enlightenment, or whatever else you'd like to call it. The Bible isn't a puzzle to solve in a given amount of time, then stored away when we are finished with it. It is meant to comfort, advise, ponder, discuss, and offer wisdom among many things. It is God's Word.

Psalms 119:30 (KJV) addresses this point quite nicely. The text is great for illuminating the importance of petitioning (praying to) God for wisdom anytime we read chapter and verse in the Bible. It reads: "The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple." 

The first several words,"The entrance of thy words giveth light;" proclaim that the meaning of God's word is "opened" to us, so that we may step inside or enter and behold its awesome beauty. Think of this as a "light" being shined on it, illuminating both its mysteries and pleasing qualities.

The remainder of the verse, "it giveth understanding unto the simple," speaks of clarity; making it easier to understand. This verse is not suggesting that God will simply drop the meaning into your lap. Many make the mistake of waiting for God to spoon feed them knowledge.

Rather, it is saying that God desires for us to not only ask for discernment, but to use our own brain to digest it; thereby making it more meaningful. Just like food we eat, our bodies can make better use of it when we first chew it; afterwards it can be slowly converted and better absorbed. Thus, it is so with God's Word.

Get into the habit of praying to God. Ask Him to light your path into His Word. You'll soon find that the time spent in scriptural study will not only be more meaningful, but more fruitful as well.

Scripture: Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 6:23; Luke 1:77-79; Acts 26:18; Ephesians 5:13-14

Prayer: Dear Jesus, Your Word is perfect and restorative; may it always be my guiding light and strength. Amen

Have a blessed Monday!

Hailey