May 15

"Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45).

What powerful words these are. Here we see the secret to understanding the Bible. Anyone can open up that book and read it. But to understand it requires a supernatural ability that is unavailable to the casual reader.

We saw this when we studied 1 Cor. 2. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can make us understand Holy Scripture. Jesus is the one who grants us the Holy Spirit when we come to faith in Christ. Then Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, can do for us what he did for the Emmaus disciples: open up the Scriptures for us.

When the Scriptures come alive to us, Jesus comes alive to us. And this living Savior then sends us out into the world to tell the world that he is indeed alive--in us and in his Word. We are his witnesses (Luke 24:48).

But we will not be witnesses of the power of God, the power that raised Jesus from the dead, unless we have the power of the Holy Spirit in us. That is why Jesus told the disciples after his resurrection, and after telling them to go forth into the world, to wait -- wait for power from the Holy Spirit to accomplish what he had given them to do.

Scripture for today: Luke 24:13-53
Thought for today: I need the Holy Spirit to witness for Christ.
Prayer for today: Holy Spirit, grant me power from you to fulfill the commission Jesus has given me to go out into the world and witness of him.

MAY 15