“And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 16:17
Recognizing Jesus for who He truly is, and understanding the depths of God’s truth revealed in His Word, both happen supernaturally. What I mean by that is neither will happen without the gracious intervention of God through His Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself told Peter in Matthew 16 – after Peter declared that Jesus was the Christ, Son of the Living God – that it was God who had revealed that truth to him. The same is true in Luke 24:45 when, after the resurrection, God “opened their (the disciples’) minds to understand the Scriptures.”
How often do we think of understanding Scripture or believing in Jesus as miraculous? Have we lost our awe of what God has done…of what He is doing now? When the eyes of a non-believing sinner are opened so that they see their need for Jesus, it is a miracle. When what used to be words on a page suddenly becomes life-changing truth, a miracle has occurred. God did not all of the sudden become more recognizable. The words of Scripture did not change to be more easily understood. What changed in both of these cases is a heart darkened by sin.
Only God can open the eyes of the heart, and anytime He does, it is indeed miraculous. It is supernatural. When His light floods in to chase away the darkness of sin it is every bit the miracle of parting the Red Sea or causing the lame to run and jump. It is our privilege, then, to experience the miraculous every day by opening His Word and letting God reveal His divine truth to us. We can participate in the supernatural work of God by obeying His Spirit and sharing the Gospel with those still trapped in darkness.
God, thank You for opening the eyes of my heart to believe in You. Please continue to show me Your truth through Your Word. Help me to follow the leading of Your Spirit as I share with others who You are, and what You have done for me. In Jesus' name, amen.
Topics: Truth
