“At one point in one of the apostle Paul’s missionary journeys,” Stan began, “he was in Athens, Greece, and something happened that’s an important part of my faith walk.”
“How could something that happened a long time ago in Athens have any impact on your faith walk today?” I asked.
“It has to do with being open to what God wants me to see,” Stan replied.
“In what way?” I asked.
“Paul was in Athens,” Stan replied, “and he was talking to some of the people about Jesus. He was talking to them about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.”
“Had those people ever heard about Jesus before?” I asked.
“No,” Stan said, “and that’s the important part for me.”
“How so?” I asked.
“Some of the people are recorded as responding to what Paul was saying by admitting they didn’t know what he was talking about, and that they wanted to know what he meant.”
Continuing, Stan added, “And it’s to be the same with me. If I don’t understand what it is that God is saying in His written word, or through the voice of His Holy Spirit, I am to frankly admit that I don’t understand. Admit that I don’t understand and ask for help in understanding.”
“As contrasted to not asking,” I replied, “and not knowing.”
“Exactly,” Stan said. “And what a foolish approach to take when God is more than willing to make clear anything I don’t understand.”
“All I have to do is ask,” he added. “God knows what I don’t know, and He’s waiting for me to ask Him to explain!”
“And,” he concluded, “it’s important for me to remember that Jesus said that eternal life is about knowing Him and God the Father. Knowing will come from asking. If I don’t ask, I won’t know!”
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And they took him (Paul) and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming? For you are bring some strange things to our ears; we want to know therefore what these things mean.” Acts of the Apostles 14:19, 20.
Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7, 8.
And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:16, 17.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, that you provide everything I need to know you more deeply. Thank you, too, for being open and willing to explain to me whatever I don’t understand in your Word and through your voice. I confess that too often I don’t understand and I don’t bother to ask for your explanation. As a result, I go without knowing all you have for me. Please forgive that foolishness. And please, Father, help me to follow your lead in asking so you can and will explain. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: Often we do not understand what we read in the Bible, but don’t bother to ask. Why do you think we do that? It’s the same thing with the voice of the Holy Spirit. Have you ever not understood but didn’t ask for an explanation? If so, why? Do you think God wants us to understand all that He has for us? Why or why not? If you don’t understand something that God says in His Word or through His voice, what should you do? Do you know how to do that?
Waiting for the Train 