Luke 24:45

Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.

Acts 16:14

A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening;

and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

Church is not to be just a cool place to gather and hang out with friends.

We must understand our need as we gather in our churches today.

We need the Lord to open closed minds to truly understand the Word of God.

We need the Lord to open closed hearts to respond to the Word of God.

Do you see from these verses that the work of opening minds and hearts is NOT man’s work, but rather it is God’s work??

So, we must understand how desperately we need God to do the work that ONLY HE can do, as we stay faithful to be and do what He has called and commanded us to be and to do.

Be loving, be kind, be welcoming, BUT know that we are gathering for the most serious and greatest eternal work in the world!

Lord, there is not one of us that has the power to open minds to understand, nor do any of us have the power to open hearts to respond to the Word of God.

So today, we walk humbly into Your church and ask You to empower us to lovingly proclaim and live Your holy, inspired, inerrant, infallible and sufficient Word and as we do, please open minds and hearts to understand and rightly respond to what You are saying.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.