Julie Fillinger

Am I allowed to admit the Bible is confusing?  

As Bible-believing Christians, are we allowed to admit that sometimes the Bible is confusing? I claimed to be a Christian when I was 9, but I was 19 when I started to really want to read my Bible and understand it. What I discovered was, it wasn’t that easy. Only I kinda felt like I couldn’t tell anyone that I didn’t really understand what I was reading. I would open my Bible and read 5 verses. Not really knowing what they were saying but determined to keep going, the next day I would open my Bible and read 5 more verses. I repeated this pattern over and over for months. As I kept on reading, eventually the Holy Spirit started to help me make some sense of it. Somewhere along the line, I started actually asking the Holy Spirit to help me understand BEFORE I started reading. Relatively soon I could read a whole chapter as I was building a little at a time upon the previous day’s reading.  

It was about this time that the Lord introduced me to a young man who would become my husband. And he mentored me more than anyone else ever had to learn how to ingest God’s Word and meditate on it so the Holy Spirit could guide me through its precepts. This was the beginning of a long line of good teachers the Lord has put in my life to encourage my hunger for Him and His Word. Now my appetite is insatiable as God’s Word burns within me.  

Why Bible-believing Christians are not Bible-reading Christians  

As I continue my response to The 40-Day Feast by Wendy Speake, what stood out to me in the fifth week was When the Bible is Confusing from Day 33. Wendy says, “One of the most common reasons why Bible-believing Christians are not Bible-reading Christians is because they don’t understand what they are reading.” And she uses Luke 24 to illustrate her point.  

Jesus had been crucified and buried and then conquered death when He rose again. Now He was walking the Earth in His resurrected body for 40 days until He ascended to Heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father. On this first day, the women who loved Jesus went to the tomb to take spices they prepared, but when they arrived the stone closing the tomb where Jesus was buried was rolled away and Jesus wasn’t there. Two angels greeted them asking, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen as He said.” (verse 5-7) Then they remembered what Jesus had taught them and they ran to tell the disciples. Some of the disciples did not believe them, but Peter rose and ran to the tomb and then went home marveling at what had happened. 

On the same day, two of Jesus’s followers had left Jerusalem in confusion and frustration. While they were on their way to Emmaus, Jesus met up with them but kept them from recognizing Him while He explained to them what the Law and Prophets said concerning Him. Scripture was being fulfilled before their very eyes, but because they misunderstood it, they were about to miss the best part. Jesus, in His patience and kindness took the time to explain all of this was part of God’s plan in redemptive history. Later that evening, when they were breaking bread together, Jesus did open their eyes. And it was like an Aha! Moment, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” (verse 32) 

What is my response to God’s Word?  

What is my response when I meet with God in His Word? Like the women, do I love Jesus more than anything and minister to others like I am ministering to Him? Am I excited and ready to jump into action like Peter? Or do I leave in frustration and misunderstanding before God has an opportunity to reveal the best part?  

As I study God’s Word, if I ask the Holy Spirit to help me understand, it burns in my heart until I  to act in obedience. Then the real miracle happens as I get to be a part of the Sovereign Plan of God. I wake up asking Him what He has for me today. It is usually more than I can handle, which is the point. What He has for me requires Resurrection Power to be accomplished. As I read God’s Word, and then yield in obedience to His Plan, it’s always satisfying and often times exhilarating. 

I don’t want to miss a thing  

Jesus Himself explained the Scriptures while He was with His followers. But then He said He had to go so that the Holy Spirit could come, like the Holy Spirit living in us to guide and teach us the Scriptures was even better than Jesus Christ explaining them Himself. It is hard to believe that’s true, and yet, when I act in obedience I feel the burn and call to act. I never want to get over this feeling! It’s a good life full of exciting adventures and the best is yet to come! I don’t want to miss a single thing God has for me here while I wait for Him to Return. 

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