Pastor's Column 4/23/2023

PASTOR’S COLUMN

“Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He said, “Yes, it was written long ago that the Messiah would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of His name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem: There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent. You are witnesses of all these things.” Luke 24:45-48, NLT

Learning What You’re Not Aware Of!”

Many of the missed opportunities we may have encountered in life, are due to our failure to understand what we have been given. God has equipped us with far more than we ever use. There is some truth in the belief: ‘From the time we’re born, God has given us the template for so much of what we could become.’ The problem is that many fail to realize what those possibilities are. While we should never place human potential over God’s work in us; we must not fail to realize that God blesses us with the ability to see, experience, and have, more than we often imagine. This is certainly true of the disciples. They, more than others, were privy to the teachings and counsel of Jesus, and had a front row seat to His mission. However, we note in many instances the disciples failed to grasp the meaning of His message. On one occasion, Jesus told the disciples: “To those who listen to my teachings, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge.” (Matthew 13:12, NLT). The disciples at times, seemed to take for granted what Jesus taught them. We too, often are guilty of not taking seriously what has been taught. It may well be human to act with urgency, only when the need is more immediate. However, to live spiritually, is to develop the discipline of committing what the Scripture teaches us, in our hearts; to be applied at all times. Sometimes the simple teachings in life are among the most profound. It was during the forty days after Jesus’ Resurrection, that the disciples came to understand so much of what He taught. The shame is not that we don’t know things; but it is in our failure to learn!