Eyes Wide Open
"Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar” (Matthew 6:22-23, MSG).
On the 3rd January, Pastor Deborah Bell gave her New Year sermon, in which she explained that 2010, or 5770 in the Hebraic calendar, is the “Year of the Eye”.
Sight is one of our five senses. However, when sight is impaired, our capacity to function properly becomes diminished.
The same applies to our spiritual life.
If we fail to see with our spiritual eyes the new season God wants us to enter into, we fail to receive fully God’s blessings.
When we’re seeing properly, our hearts are totally transparent. We become authentic in our worship, our service, and in our daily living, not only towards God, but also to one another. When we see with the Spirit, we start to live authentic lives and we become regulated by the Holy Spirit, rather than the whims of our flesh. In fact, Pastor said, “We cannot live in truth and be authentic without the Holy Spirit.”
This is why, “… we live by believing and not by seeing” (2 Corinthians 5:2).
When we’re spiritually seeing, we live out God’s truth correctly and aren’t afraid to show others the authentic person inside. After all, Jesus did say our eyes are the windows into our souls.
So we need to ask ourselves, “Do we see through the lust of the flesh (craving for sexual gratification) and the lust of the eyes (greedy longings of the mind) and the pride of life (assurance in one’s own resources or the stability of earthly things - 1 John 2: 16), or do we clothe ourselves with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ, and not let ourselves think about ways to indulge our evil desires (Romans 13:14)?
So, fling your eyes wide open and start seeing the new that God has for you. I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed!
By Sean Cameron Gunn.
Hi Sean,
I'm also reminded of what Pastor Debs said from Corinthians about being careful if you think you are standing firm. It reminded me of the vessel the Titanic on her maiden voyage. Her crew and Captain were so confident that the vessel was impenetrable that they didn't foresee the giant iceberg on their path that would end in the destruction of the vessel and the loss of many lives.
I think sometimes we are like that. Everything seems to be plain and smooth sailing and we don't draw alongside anybody, people who are grounded in the Lord and can discern and see what God reveals. We need to be aware that our eyes need to be open Spiritually and physically and not become complacent in any area of our walk. The smallest bump if not recognised could become a mountain and cause a stumble. A mountain called Pride, lust, jealousy, greed etc..these can all become like ice bergs.
Let us all move through this year acutely aware of the need for our eyes to be open in every avenue! :)
God grant me the serenity to accept the the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.