Biblical illumination is the process by which the Holy Spirit helps a person to understand the truth of God's Word. Illumination is often confused with Biblical inspiration and interpretation. But they are different. Inspiration involves how God has revealed spiritual truth. Interpretation is how we correctly interpret scriptural truth. But illumination involves the act of the Holy Spirit helping us to better understanding and apply spiritual truth.
In today’s Power of 3 reading, Paul instructs Timothy to do his part in accelerating and facilitating illumination saying,
“Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.” 2 Timothy 2:7 NIV
Paul is telling Timothy to reflect upon the truths of his letters (or what we now know as the Pauline epistles or scripture). Then, after reflection, the Holy Spirit will illuminate both their meaning and application to Timothy’s life. When you break that down we see four components to Spirit-driven illumination of the Word.
Reading >>>>>> Reflection >>>>>> Illumination >>>>>> Application
First, like Timothy we have to expose ourselves to the Word of God by reading it. If we are not reading and depositing God’s Word into our hearts, there is nothing to illuminate. Secondly, we must reflect upon what we read. Thirdly, the Holy Spirit is then able to build upon what we have read as well as our mental discipline of reflection by illuminating and enlightening us to the meaning of scripture. Fourthly, that illumination then enables us to better apply the scripture to our lives. But the point of leverage is where laziness gets the best of us… reflection.
The word Paul used for “reflect” in the language of his day was a verb, or action word meaning to consider by engaging the mind. It got me thinking about what hinders me from experiencing this kind of illumination. Let me mention a few things.
1. Biblical illiteracy. Paul makes it clear that Timothy had to reflect on “the things he was saying”. That begs the question, what were the “things” Paul was saying? They were the letters Paul wrote and that Timothy was reading. Today, you and I know them as the Pauline Epistles or in other words … the Bible. You can’t reflect upon something that you are not reading. Neither can the Spirit illuminate something that is not there to begin with. Jesus promised us that the Holy Spirit would, “teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance” (John 14:26). But how can the Holy Spirit bring to remembrance what we have not put in our hearts to begin with? If I am not reading God’s Word every-day I’m not giving the Spirit much to work with in terms of illumination.
2. Substitution. Unfortunately, some people think that discipleship is reading about God’s Word instead of reading God’s Word itself. But reading commentaries, apologetics, Church history, philosophy, theology or even exegetical opinions is NOT reading the scripture. None of those tools were around when Paul wrote this to Timothy. Paul was not encouraging Timothy to reflect upon the thinking of others. His request for scrolls leads us to believe he did not have a problem with learning from others. However, in this context Paul was telling Timothy to personally engage the scriptures with his mind and thought. Please understand, I am not saying other people’s opinions about the scriptures are not helpful. But what I am saying is they can’t be mistaken for studying the scriptures. Reading books about water is a lot different than drinking water itself. If I am spend more time reading Christian philosophers, commentators or theology than I do reading the Word of God, I’m short circuiting what Paul is talking about.
3. Impatience. Reflection takes time. It most often happens when I am willing to sit alone in a quiet room, go on a long drive or stair out of a window uninterrupted. It is less likely to happen when I am mentally distracted by the fast pace of a busy schedule, repeated interruptions, intrusive technology or a life without margin. I find that the Spirit’s deepest work comes when I am alone with my thoughts about God’s Word. It is at those times that the Spirit is much more productive than my task list may reflect.
4. Forgetfulness. Few things help us internalize spirit-driven reflection than writing them down in some form of journal. Several years ago, I documented all the instances in the Bible where godly people put in writing what the Lord impressed upon their heart. A few of them include things like Exodus 17:14 (NLT) that says, “…the Lord instructed Moses, “Write this down on a scroll as a permanent reminder…” Jeremiah 30:2 (AMP) says, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.” The Lord told Habakkuk to “write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”. In 1 Corinthians 10:11, Paul says the events of the Old Testament “were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.” In Revelation 1:19, John was told to “write down the things you have seen”. Nothing casts illumination in concreate better than writing them down. I’m not talking about writing a blog or book, but a simple devotional journal between you and God.
5. Intentionality. Although God’s Word promises us that illumination can happen in chaotic moments when we least expect it (Matthew 10:19 and John 16:13-14), I find that it most often is a product of my own intentionality. By this I mean it happens when I intentionally bring focus, environment, time, patience and solitude to converge on a single place and time. The deep work of reflection rarely happens on its own.
Biblical illumination is one of those things that can’t be defined or explained with a linear formula or definition. It is a miraculous and mysterious thing that occurs when your mind, the Word of God and the Holy Spirit all converge upon one moment of solitude. It keeps our walk with God fresh, vibrant and soulful.
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