“To Your Remembrance”

     For 3 years, the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ heard His words.  Subsequently, the Holy Spirit, given to indwell their hearts after the resurrection and ascension of Christ, would use those words to teach and illuminate their hearts.

     “These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:25-26).

     In similar manner, the Holy Spirit uses the words of God that we read in Scripture to teach and illuminate our hearts.  We have no experience of audibly hearing the Lord Jesus speak.  We do possess the Bible, however, and our reading of its sacred pages provides grist for the mill, as it where, whereby the Holy Spirit’s personal teaching ministry reveals the living Christ unto and within us.  However, the illumination may not happen at the time we read, but rather at a time subsequent to our reading.

     Often when we open the Scriptures, we have no sense of learning some new and thrilling truth.  As with the disciples and the Lord’s words, we later find the Holy Spirit using words stored in our minds.  Perhaps in times of blessing, or times of challenge, or times of ministry to others, or just times, our Lord brings to remembrance those truths of the Bible that personally apply to our hearts, lives and circumstances.  “Oh, that’s what it means!” we realize as the Spirit of God causes the Christ of Scripture to become the Christ of this moment and this experience.  Our hearts “burn within us” as our risen Savior walks with us along our personal road to Emmaus, opening the Scriptures’ meaning, intent and content (Luke 24:32).

    Perhaps today’s Scripture reading will provide opportunity for the Lord to meet with us somewhere far down the road.  Consistent exposure to the Word of God makes such personal relationship possible.  Understanding this truth infuses our regular reading with a sense of purpose and expectation, as well as challenging us to recognize the importance of filling our hearts and minds with the Scriptures.

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them.  And Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.”
(Jeremiah 15:16)