Rays of Light

I was about seven-years-old when I first learned that elbow grease is not stored in the garage and head cheese is definitely not a dairy product. For the record, head cheese is hardly my idea of food. This nasty lunch “meat” is actually made from the flesh of a pig’s head, tongue, and other gross body parts. Why they call it head “cheese” is beyond me even today, so you can certainly understand why I was confused as a child.

Finding out the meaning of ‘elbow grease’ was really no big deal; I had been using it for years even if I hadn’t known it. Adversely, I nearly vomited when I learned the truth about head cheese the hard way -by tasting it. What kind of adult gives one of the world’s biggest cheese lovers a slice of this nasty stuff (which looks nothing like cheese) and let’s them stick it in their mouth thinking that if it has the word cheese in its name it must be good?

Speaking of cheese, my mother’s heart compels me to share a humorous memory with you. After the birth of my second daughter, my son decided he didn’t want grilled cheese sandwiches anymore. I was a bit puzzled because this was his favorite food at the time.

“Really? Why don’t you want a grilled cheese?” I asked quizzically. “You love those.”

His response made me laugh out loud.

“I don’t want no more girled cheese sam-iches, I want a boyed cheese one.”

I still get a kick out of that when it comes to mind. Then I wonder, how many times have I misunderstood my Heavenly Father while He was “feeding” me His Word?

The apostle Paul wrote: When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. I Corinthians 13:11

Studying the Holy Bible is unquestionably one of my all-time favorite things to do. However, I learned a long time ago that some parts of Scripture are far more difficult to understand than others. Consequently, they can be easily misunderstood. How then are we to mature in the faith if we don’t understand some of the more obscure passages? Commentaries are wonderful resources, but ultimately they are just another man’s opinion, which may or may not be as enlightened as our own. It is very important that we read the Bible with the correct understanding.

Our Father made it easier than we think. He inspired the apostle John to write:

But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, 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 14:26)

But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will[a] abide in Him. (I John 2:27)

I am certainly not minimizing the role of pastors and teachers. These were given by God for our benefit (Ephesians 4:11) and we most assuredly need them, but I am encouraging us all to begin EVERY Bible reading by inviting the Holy Spirit’s wise instruction. Each time we open the Bible, let us pray that the Spirit would help us to correctly read God’s words, setting aside any preconceived notions, personal biases or false teachings- anything that would hinder our understanding.

The first time I did this, it was as though I was reading Scripture for the very first time. I truly began to understand many passages far more clearly, and I believe, more accurately.

Growing in Christ is a life-long process, one that we toil at daily. I pray, therefore, that our spiritual appetites become insatiable, and that the spiritual “meat” we consume is pleasant and nourishing. No spitting this stuff out.

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth.” (Psalm 119:103)