Veiled Format

Oh how I love writing these posts each day!
It is hard to believe that the first post was published in March.

I am so grateful to my daughter, who designed this site, and who does all the back end things that need to be done.
She is a good teacher since I am capable of handling much of this myself now.

But every once in a while, my lack of expertise is quite evident.

I usually write one day ahead.
I schedule the post for ten minutes after midnight.
So if I am already asleep, some “unseen publisher” takes my thoughts, that are now words, and mysteriously posts them with the correct date…so that they can be read by 7:00 the next morning.

I don’t have to think about it.
I still check every morning to make sure the post is there…and that the Bible verses link to the right article.

I came downstairs about 8:30 the other morning, and checked, as I always do.
It was like I was reading another language!
The text is usually on a nice tan background…easy to read…pleasant to the eye.
This particular morning, the text was written on the wood behind the usual background.
It was impossible to read!

I checked everything I knew to check.
I couldn’t find anything wrong.
I decided to publish the post again.
Now there were two versions of the same post.
One that was readable…one that was unreadable!

When I asked my daughter later that morning, what could have gone wrong, she showed me an option on the side…that I inadvertently clicked…which changed the format.
One little click!

I’m glad it happened, because now I am aware of the potential problem.
I also know how to remedy the situation.

I found myself thinking about this all afternoon.

This is what God’s Word must look like to people who do not have the Holy Spirit.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

Without the Holy Spirit to teach and to guide, the words in the Bible are just that…words!
With the Holy Spirit, the words in the Bible are Life…and Truth.

Without the Holy Spirit, the minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (2 Corinthians 3:14-16)

There is a veil that must be lifted from our hearts and minds in order to understand.
The veil makes things unclear…muddled.
God’s Word would look very much like my blog post the other morning.
Hard to read…impossible to understand.

When we trust in Jesus alone for our salvation…not in our works, or our ability, or our church traditions, or family heritage…but in Jesus alone…the veil is removed.

Trusting in other things, gets in the way.
The other things become the things of first importance.

Our first love…must be Jesus!
The most important thing…is believing in Jesus.

Until our salvation is secure, the format of our lives is different.
Nothing makes sense apart from the Cross of Christ.
The finished work that was done on that cross is what we cling to.

When we humbly come to Jesus…when we have ceased striving and trying to take control…our hearts will confess Jesus as Lord.

The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart, that is the word of faith we are proclaiming: that if you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in  your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be put to shame.”
(Romans 10:8-11)

The “I” that has been at the center of our life…now becomes JESUS!
The throne that we have put ourselves on…now becomes HIS throne.
The God we talked ABOUT…is now the God we talk TO…and know personally.

Oh, precious Lord Jesus…
I am Yours.
I sin.
I cannot save myself.
I want You to take control of my life…because You are sovereign…I am not.
You are my Lord.
I want to serve You.
Help me to understand Your will in my life.
Make clear the path You want me to take.
Open my heart and my mind to Your Word.
Send Your Holy Spirit into my heart and my mind…to guide me…to comfort me.
Your Holy Spirit is a deposit…the assurance of my eternal Home in heaven with You.
I love You…sweet Lord Jesus.
Thank You for saving me.
I pray all of this in Your precious Name.

Veil removed.
Understanding.
Format of our life…no longer ours…but HIS!
Salvation!