“Then He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” — Luke 24:45
Understanding Comes from the Lord: Walking in Love in the Last Days is more than a message—it’s a posture we need to embrace in this generation. After His resurrection, Jesus walked alongside two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus. Though they had followed Him, heard His teachings, and even witnessed His death, they still couldn’t grasp what had really taken place. It wasn’t until Jesus personally drew near and opened their understanding that they saw the full picture.
He told them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” (Luke 24:25). Then, with grace and patience, He helped them connect the dots—not through debate, but through presence and revelation. That’s how transformation began.
It’s a reminder to all of us: biblical knowledge alone is not enough. Scripture can be read, memorized, and even preached without true understanding. Only the Holy Spirit can reveal God’s heart behind the words. Without that spiritual insight, we can easily miss what God is doing—even when it’s right in front of us.
Saul of Tarsus is another example. He was highly educated, deeply religious, and fully convinced he was doing God’s work by persecuting the early church. He wasn’t lacking zeal or information—he was lacking divine understanding. It wasn’t until Jesus interrupted his journey and said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” that the truth broke through. And that encounter didn’t just change his name—it changed the entire trajectory of his life. Saul became Paul, and instead of attacking the gospel, he began preaching it with boldness and clarity.
That kind of transformation doesn’t happen through argument. It happens when Jesus opens a person’s eyes.
Many believers today sincerely love God but still hold to theological positions that, when examined through the lens of Scripture and the Spirit, don’t quite align with the full truth. Some deny the gifts of the Spirit, some believe “once saved, always saved,” others teach that hell is not eternal, and some hold to a “Jesus Only” view that overlooks the fullness of the Trinity. These beliefs often stem from tradition, upbringing, or denominational background—not rebellion or ill will.
And because these convictions are deeply rooted, simply debating them is rarely effective. In most cases, the person has already heard the counterarguments. They’ve likely even studied them. What they haven’t experienced yet is that moment when Jesus Himself opens their understanding—just as He did with the disciples and with Paul.
Some might say, “But aren’t we called to defend the truth?” Yes—we are called to stand firm in sound doctrine and to be ready to give an answer. But Scripture also calls us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), to walk humbly, and to trust the Spirit’s timing. We are not responsible for forcing people into agreement. We are called to love, to intercede, and to remain faithful witnesses.
In this time when people are divided and arguments are everywhere, love speaks louder than winning a debate. Prayer can reach hearts in ways that strong opinions never will. And sometimes, a humble attitude can open someone’s heart more than the best argument ever could.
As Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” That applies not just to our lives—but also to how we engage with others. We don’t always have to be right—we have to be surrendered.
Let’s stop trying to win debates and start winning people through love. Let’s pray for God to open their eyes, just as He opened ours. Let’s walk in grace, trust the Holy Spirit, and keep pointing others to Jesus—not just with our words, but with our lives.
If you’re called to share the gospel through blogging, but feel overwhelmed by where to start, check out our Click-by-Click WordPress Faith Blog Builder. It’s a free step-by-step resource to help you launch a ministry blog with clarity and confidence.
“The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” — Psalm 119:130
—Rev. Nehemiah Maxwell