Good morning. Take a good look around you. Isn’t a gorgeous day? Now take a look inside you. Can you see that you are a wonderful person, beloved by our mighty God? If you take an honest look, the answer is yes. You only need to see with God-sight, His eyes.
God’s Word tells us quite a bit about proper and improper sight. Early in the book of Genesis we read that Eve looked upon the fruit of the tree and saw that it was pleasing to the eye and good for food, so she took some and ate it. Genesis 3:6
The Israelites were warned to be careful to do only that which was acceptable in the eyes of God. Exodus 15:26
We read how our sight can be ruined through ungodly motivations: A bribe blinds the eyes, even of the wise. Deuteronomy 16:19
Isaiah talks about God’s people when they have turned from Him. His words explain much of the misery they are experiencing and gives them a glimpse of what will certainly come if they don’t repent: Therefore, justice is far from us, nor does righteousness overtake us. We look for light, but there is darkness! We search
for brightness, but we walk in blackness! We grope for the wall like the blind,
and we grope as if we had no eyes. We stumble at noonday as at twilight;
We are as dead men in desolate places. Isaiah 59:9-10
God-sight is a gift of God. “Open my eyes Lord, that I may see the wonderful things of your law.” Psalm 119:18
Later in the same Psalm we read Make me walk in the path of Your commandments,
For I delight in it. Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness.Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way. Psalm 119:37 Isn’t that a righteous thought in prayer, “Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things.” There are so many places our eyes might wander to in this world that are purely worthless. They have no value and instead they would take from us that which we desire in the Lord. We need to see with God-sight, with eyes that are blessed and with vision that is made clear by the light of the Lord. This truth is never more clear to us than in the way we look at people.
Back when I was a young person I was frequently tormented by a bully. His name was Maynard, he was a lot bigger and tougher than I was, and he used every opportunity to prove it. I used to pray that God would strike down my enemy. I used to pray that God would infuse me with some kind of special strength so that I could take care of him myself. God didn’t do any of that. What God did do, although I didn’t give God thanks for it at the time, was to give me sufficient courage so that I could talk to the guy. When I talked to him all I could think of was to ask, why? Why do you seem to hate me? Why are you so determined to make me miserable? Why?
His answer shocked me. He said that I had something that he wanted, but that he knew he could never have. This made him mad, so he hated me. I couldn’t think of any way I could fix the problem so I assumed that the problem would continue. But our conversation changed the way I looked at him, and for some reason it seemed to change the way he looked at me, so the bullying stopped. It was all about seeing each other in a different way.
How can you improve your sight today? Is there a person you need to look at with God-sight instead of using your worldly vision? Is there a problem that you cannot see an answer to? Are you sure that you aren’t stubbornly trying to fix it yourself and instead need to ask God to help you see it with His eyes? Is there a fear that you can’t get past? You know that if you see it with God’s eyes, what is fearsome will become tame.
Claim a new sight today, a new way of seeing that can lead to a new way of thinking. God-sight, vision that abounds in light even in a darkened world.
Vern