Thursday, April 8, 2010

Daily - 4/8/10

Luke 24:35-48

35 Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

36 While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you."

37 But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.

38 Then he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?

39 Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have."

40 And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

41 While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, "Have you anything here to eat?"

42 They gave him a piece of baked fish;

43 he took it and ate it in front of them.

44 He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled."

45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.

46 And he said to them, "Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day

47 and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

48 You are witnesses of these things.
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Here's a nice scene to place yourself in. A dead guy appears out of nowhere. "What's the fuss about? Got any food?" Can you imagine? v45 - He opens their eyes, and they understand the Scriptures. Anybody else want to have been in that classroom? Theology 901. Bring an extra pencil.Flip comments aside ...This passage specifically discusses the disciples, but it applies to us too. It is ultimately Christ who enables us to understand the Scriptures. We don't do it on our own. He opens our eyes when we are ready.

I know this from my own experience ... as I grow spiritually, passages that I've previously struggled with become more clear. It seems like every time I make some type of noticeable spiritual growth, that is accompanied by a deeper understanding of truth. That's God transforming me, bit by bit, into the man he wants me to be. It's too bad that there are too many "bits" remaining to be transformed, but that's the way it goes for us humans. My job is to be open to the transformation.