10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

“Though seeing, they do not see;
though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.
15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’ Matthew 13:10-15

Have you ever wondered why you can read a passage of Scripture and a non-Christian can read a passage and come to almost opposite conclusions?

Better still, ever read a passage and read the same passage two years later (and 5 years after that) and receive something entirely different from it?

We all have.

God illuminates the Scriptures so we have what we need for the moment.

It’s similar with the Christian/non-Christian reading. You and I view the Scriptures much differently than the non-believer does.

He may see it as he searches for the Ultimate Truth; whereas, we are viewing it to grow.

The Word of God is powerful.

I fear that we don’t reverence it as we should, memorize it as we ought, or share it as the Spirit leads.

If we believe it to be the most powerful book ever read, what should we do with that belief?