July 26, 2019

July 26

Running with Jesus

Luke 24:45 “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.”

     After Jesus appeared in the upper room the disciples did not understand resurrection life and they doubted He was Jesus.  Jesus showed them the scars in His hands and feet and then He even ate with them. Then he opened their understanding of Scriptures.

     So many people will tell me they read the Bible but can’t understand it.  First of all you need to make sure you have truly been born again. Then I suggest you talk to God and ask Him before you read to open your understanding.  When God began to teach me I started by reading a children’s story book of the Bible in order to become familiar with all the characters of the Bible.  The Old Testament is woven throughout the New Testament.  I also took a notebook and wrote down things that guided me for that day.  God’s Word is our guide of how to live our lives.  As we learn to walk in obedience to His Word in John He tells us He will come and make His abode in us. Obedience to the little things will help you learn to handle the big things.  He may say forgive someone today.  He may say in everything give thanks and you have to learn to thank Him for even that difficult situation you are in. You will find every day He wants us to live in His presence and be a part of our lives.  You will find the Word of God will come alive and instruct you and you need a word from Him in and out of every season of your life He will be there.  The words will bounce off of the page and minister to your heart.  His words and mercy is new every morning.  I also have used  the devotional guide book “The Daily Bread” and a “Life Application Bible”.  They will give you insights into scripture that will help you apply to your daily life.  Life application is where you begin to live the abundant life of obedience.  Attending regular worship and especially Sunday School will help you grow in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.  You will soon be like the man Jesus taught that found treasure in a field and sold all he had and went and bought that field.  You will find it to be your life source.  The disciple’s lives were changed in a dramatic way because they met the living Lord face to face daily.  You too will meet Him on the pages of the Word of God and you will never be the same.

Father, once again we cannot thank You enough for Your Word.  We ask that we will treasure the privilege of having so many copies in our homes.  Father help us share Your Word to encourage some soul today that needs a word of hope.  Father You tell us Your Word will not return void and that we don’t have to make excuses for the truth as we share it.  Also, we know that we will pass away and things will pass away but Your Word will never pass away it will endure forever no  matter how they try to stamp it out.  Thank You that when we feel we are sinking we have an anchor.  Thank you when we don’t want to run anymore You will renew our strength and we can press on.  Thank You when days are dark and dreary You are light for our path.  Thank You when the enemy tells us we are defeated we don’t have to listen to his lies and You lead us to walk in victory. 

Tomorrow: Power from on high, we will run over into the book of Acts.

Judy Hollaway

Originally penned 2015