I love unfolding the Word of God each morning. Rising up early in the morning and fixing a cup of coffee and then going to my office to discover another treasure from His Word.
Psalm 119:130 – “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (NIV)
That is where the words touched me – imagine that – unfolding God’s Words gives light and gives understanding to the simple.
Just in basic everyday language, I looked up the meaning of “unfolding.” It means to bring out of a folded state; to spread or open out – to spread out or lay open to view – to reveal or display. (Random House Webster’s College Dictionary)
Then a basic search on the Hebrew word for “unfolding,” is “pethach” – (pay’thakh). It means disclosure, entrance, door,opening.” (Strong’s Concordance OT:6608)
God’s Word was meant to be opened up – unfolded – then read and treasured in our hearts. The Word is Light to this world. It pushes away darkness. It is available to all.
There is something about sitting in the quietness of the Presence of God. Light bulb moments.
I remembered what Jesus did after He was resurrected. Have you read about the cloth that was used for his face covering? How that cloth was found?
John 20:7 – “and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.” (ESV)
There are stories out there about the meaning behind that folding of the cloth. One main thought is about a Jewish custom. If you have time, you can look it up.
But today, I was given a nugget – a treasure – some manna.
Jesus had been laid in that tomb to be resurrected. And indeed, He rose again. Just like He said that He would. So why would Jesus take the time to fold that face cloth up? Why did He just drop the burial cloths on the ground? AND here I want to insert that Jesus never did anything without purpose. His time was valuable here on earth – short but valuable.
Could it be that the face cloth represented the new? That the burial garments represented the old?
Could it be that Jesus is the WORD? Could it be that Jesus paid the price for our sins? Could it be that it was our job to open up that “face cloth” so that we would read God’s Word and expose the light of Jesus and find our Heavenly Father?
When was the last time you unfolded the Word of Light and was exposed to the understanding of the Kingdom of God?
In some homes, God’s Word is a dust collector. Never unfolded. Never treasured. And yet, Jesus took the time to fold up that face cloth. And now it is our job to “unfold” it.
Don’t you just love the way the Lord reveals himself to us?
Today is October 1st. Several times I have taken the October Challenge of writing everyday for 31-days. I have decided this year to once again take that challenge. This is the month where I add to my series of “Unfolding the Word of God.”
My prayers are that you will be blessed during this month as I reveal more of His Word each day.
I pray that this song also blesses you today too.