Clear Understanding

My church has been using a daily devotional book for the past few weeks called 40 Days With The Holy Spirit, by R.T. Kendall.  Most every day the reading has been packed with a real punch of good information.  But one day in particular, about 2 weeks ago, the title for that day was The Holy Spirit Is Our Guide.  One thing Mr. Kendall pointed out was this: “Only by the Holy Spirit guiding us can we understand the Bible and then experience the joy of the Spirit.”  

As the Bible tells us in John 16:13a (NLT): “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”  So to get the most out of our Bible study, we need the Holy Spirit in our life to give us clear understanding about what we’re reading.

1 Cor. 2:14 (NLT) points out:  “But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.”

I can remember as a young adult and a newly recommitted Christian, when I would try to study the Bible it was difficult for me to understand – and so much of it did come across as “foolish.”  But as I grew stronger in my faith with a deepening relationship with the Holy Spirit, it became so much more clear for me.

Mr. Kendall talked about how he used to go bonefishing in Florida.  Apparently the fish (which are inedible, catching them is just for sport) are very difficult to see and catch.  He thought he could do it on his own but soon discovered he could not – he just couldn’t see them.  He hired a guide and with his help, he gained a clear understanding of how to see and catch them.  The guidance made all the difference to his success.   

He said this:  “The Spirit ‘guides’ us into truth – showing what is there but what cannot be seen without Him opening our eyes…the Spirit will show us amazing things in Scripture.”

Mr. Kendall then shares that after apparently an extended time without having gone bonefishing, he was going to try again on a trip to the Bahamas.  Even after having known how to spot them and catch them in the past, he said he would never have caught any without the guide he hired.  He said it made him feel dumb.  But it amplified the fact that even as more “experienced Christians”..we ”need to humble ourselves and admit our need for further illumination by the Spirit.”  “We never outgrow our need for the Heavenly Guide to lead us to truth we have never seen before – but which has always been there.”

Isaiah 58:11a (TLB) says:  “And the Lord will guide you continually…”  So I believe that in order to have a clear understanding of what I am studying each day, I need to make this following verse  my prayer:  “I am eager to learn all that you want me to do; help me to understand more.”  (Ps. 119:32 CEV) 

Written by Karran Martin – October 7, 2023