"Open My Mind, Lord"

     Sometimes I sit and think, “Will I ever be smart enough or spiritual enough to understand the Bible?” It's a pretty long book, sixty-six books in one actually, not to mention that every page has two columns of tiny print marching across the page in intimidating neatness. I'm no scholar, no theologian with my hands and mind wrapped around the original Hebrew and Greek translations. I'm easily distracted, not very consistent, and everyone who's ever met me knows that when I say “intimidating neatness” it's because (for some unfortunate reason) my mind naturally rejects organization and order. As you may be able to tell, I don't exactly sound like someone who would be able to fully internalize and respond to anything, especially something as sacred and unchangeable as God-inspired Scripture. I mean, I love Jesus and all, so isn't that enough? Don't I have every right to give up, to toss reading the Bible out on the street along with roller skating, sports, ballet dancing, and all the other mountains of hobbies I've tried and failed at? But the Bible isn't just a hobby; the Bible is the Word and the Word is Jesus. The Bible isn't a book club; the reading isn't just to prepare for a discussion every once in a while but to keep in our hearts every minute of every day. So how can I do that if I can barely make myself sit down and read it, much less take it in and let it pour over my soul? Alone I'm a hopeless case, but thankfully I'm not alone.

   Luke 24:49 says, “And then He opened their minds so that they could understand the Scriptures.” The disciples had been following Jesus a long time. They had helped perform miracles and seen Jesus do incredible things, and they joined Him in His private time, seeking to learn and know the Scriptures as He taught them. But a part of them never understood. All that time He was trying to tell them what was to come, and of the glorious work He would soon finish. But their minds were closed, and they never fully grasped His power. To save one man from blindness or leprosy is one thing, but to save an entire world from the crushing weight of their sins? Now that's a whole new level of mercy entirely. Jesus had died and risen from the dead, but at first they just couldn't believe it. They knew that He was God, but they'd seen the soldiers take Him away, and knew that there was no escaping death on the cross. But it never occurred to them that it wasn't the end because even though He’d tried to tell them all along, there was still a lot about Him that they didn't know. 

    They had seen the Jesus on the surface, but even though they were with Him constantly for all that time, they never saw the truth of what was on the inside. And if they couldn't get it seeing Him face to face, then what makes us think we can get it just by listening to a preacher on a Sunday? When it comes to reading and understanding His Word, I often fall very short, but every time I do, I feel the impact of distancing myself from those daily reminders that I am free and forgiven. I see it in my attitude, in the way I treat others, and in the way I struggle with forgiving both the people around me and myself. I know I will never be perfectly disciplined in studying the Bible; life and my forever-scattered mind will always get in the way. But every day is a new chance to read His Word, feel His touch, and run into the grip of His nail-scarred hands. All I have to say is, “Open my mind, Lord.”