George Mueller once said, “Again, we should read the Scripture prayerfully, never supposing that we are clever enough, or wise enough, to understand God’s Word by our own wisdom. In all our reading of the Scriptures let us seek carefully to have the help of the Holy Spirit; let us ask, for Jesus’ sake, that He will enlighten us; He is willing to do it.”
What a humbling reminder. In a world that values intelligence, research, and personal insight, it is easy to approach the Bible as if it were just another book to be analyzed and mastered. But Scripture is not like any other book. It is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), breathed out by God Himself (2 Timothy 3:16). No matter how much we study, without the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we will always miss something essential.
Jesus promised His followers, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:26, BSB). This means that when we open the Bible, we are not alone. The same Spirit who inspired the Word is the One who makes it come alive in our hearts. But as Mueller pointed out, we must ask for His help.
Do we come to Scripture with a posture of dependence? Do we pause before reading and ask God to teach us? Or do we rush through, assuming our own wisdom is enough? If we are not careful, we may read without truly hearing. We may gain knowledge but miss transformation.
Think of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. They walked with Jesus after His resurrection, yet they did not recognize Him. It wasn’t until “He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures” (Luke 24:45, BSB) that they saw clearly. The same is true for us. Without God’s help, the Bible may feel like just words on a page. But when He opens our minds, we see Christ more clearly, and our hearts burn within us (Luke 24:32).
Mueller’s words remind us that God is willing to enlighten us—if only we ask. The next time you sit down with your Bible, take a moment to pray. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you, to make the Word come alive, to show you more of Jesus. Because understanding the Bible is not about how smart we are; it is about how dependent we are on God.
Related Passages: Psalm 119:18, James 1:5, 1 Corinthians 2:12
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