November 1

The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple. — Ps 119:130 BSB

The Holy Spirit sometimes gives a glimpse of Jesus by opening up a passage of Scripture that reveals Him, casting divine light before our astonished eyes and sending beams of gospel truth into our souls, allowing us to see Jesus. We might find ourselves like those Greeks who, during the feast, approached Philip saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus," and with a sense of His beauty and loveliness, we cry out to God, "We want to see Jesus." We long to feel His love, to have our eyes opened to His glory, to see Him crucified for us, bearing our sins on the cross, and to experience sweet and blessed fellowship with Him as our suffering Savior. In faith, we desire to grasp the length, breadth, depth, and height of His love, a love that surpasses knowledge.

Wherever grace is at work in a soul, there will always be a longing for Christ. A soul truly taught by God can never be satisfied without Jesus. There remains a rest for God’s people, and nothing short of experiencing Jesus as revealed by the Holy Spirit will bring peace to their souls. However, before enjoying this rest, there is often a long wait, with clouds of darkness sometimes obscuring the mercy-seat for months or even years. The cross of Christ may be hidden from view, and the Holy Spirit may seem to delay His work of taking the things of Christ and showing them to our souls. In these times of waiting, we struggle to grasp the assurance of salvation, and doubts creep in, leaving us uncertain about our standing before God. Everything seems to conspire against us, making us feel like mere outward professors of the faith.

It’s in these dark times that God’s words bring light. A promise like, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest," may be made sweet to the soul. As that promise is applied to our hearts, it strengthens our faith. The weary pilgrim is drawn to the Lord, feeling the weight of their burdens, and is given moments of rest. They are enabled to look away from themselves, with all their miseries, and to look to Jesus in His grace and beauty. They cast themselves upon Him, and their heart is opened to the power of His atoning blood, His love, and His perfect sacrifice for sin. Faith rises up to embrace it, and they begin to taste the sweetness and healing of the Savior's love.

This is how the entrance of God’s words brings light, allowing us to experience the power of the cross in our hearts.