Do You Truly Understand What You Are Reading?

Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Acts 8:30, “So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?'”

Background

One particular day in college, I was less than fully prepared for English class. That day we were to have a quiz, and I had not completed the required chapters of the novel that we were reading. So, I stopped by, as I did most days, to see my older brother on campus, who had an office as a grad student. And while I reviewed my notes and studied, I had him read for me the remaining chapters that were to be on the quiz. Now, he had no idea what was happening in the story up to the point he began reading, and he had no way of contextualizing the events as they unfolded, but all I needed from him was to be able to tell me what happened. It didn’t need to make sense to him, and he didn’t need to understand who or why or how. I just needed to know the basics so I could manage my way through a quiz. Well, he was willing to oblige me, and I don’t remember anything else about that day in class, so evidently I didn’t stink up the test badly enough to leave any lasting scars. When we took my daughter to visit the college she eventually attended, I was able to sit in on a class with her older brother who also attended there. It was a fluid mechanics class. Needless to say, my background of zero engineering had a much greater effect on the impact of the lesson from the professor than my knowledge of the actual words he was saying. I understood his vocabulary (mostly), but I had no idea what he was talking about. My dad had and recovered from a stroke a few summers ago. But when the agency called one July day to confirm the appointment he had made a while back to take a driving class, he thought it was a scam phishing for money, and so he ended up not enrolled and instead attempted to drive without proper authorization.

Application

Do you understand? Not what I’ve been talking about, particularly, but do you understand? Do you understand what Jesus did for you on the cross? Do you understand the effects of what you say? Do you understand how full a relationship Jesus desires with you? Do you understand what it means to lay down your life and follow Him? Do you understand how vicious and subtle sin is, and how it possesses you in ways that go unnoticed or excused? Do you understand what you are reading?

Charge

As we seek Him today, ask God for understanding that will open your heart to all that Jesus is and did.

Editor Comment: In a culture flooded with information, this devotional reminds believers that truly understanding Scripture and the gospel requires far more than simply reading or hearing the words.