OPEN MY EYES
Red skies at morning, sailors take warning, red skies at night, sailors delight.
As a lake-bound sailor in North Texas I’ve always imagined what it would be like to sail on open water. To have only the instruments to lead me or better yet to be skilled enough to navigate by the stars at night. I would love to know the competence to find a destination with a map and a compass. Truth be told, I get lost without GPS in my own city!
Jesus responded to the Pharisees request for a sign from heaven. They were pretenders just like me but without the Holy Spirit to open their eyes to who He was. What would a group of Torah-trained academics know about weather outcomes on the Mediterranean? They wouldn’t have known how to navigate an ocean, but they would have known the phrase; ‘When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ Jesus was outwardly frustrated that those who studied about Him all their lives but could not see who it was speaking to them. The God who directs the weather, who had just fed several thousand for the second time, who heals the blind, mute, demon possessed, lame and raised the dead; It is the Savior standing right in front of them and all they see is a man and ask for a sign. It is no wonder that Jesus, in frustration, states, “none will be given.”
Do I run the same risk? Do I drive right by the signs Jesus has left all around me? Am I working so hard to formulate my test for Him that I miss all the evidence that surround me? Do I spend my time buried in His Book but never see Him? I know the impact of the weather and how to read the sky at night and in the morning, but, am I listening to the One who made the weather, sky, night, and morning? He is LORD. His Word shouts His presence and His power. I better not miss Him in my seeking for evidence of His Deity.
Lord, open my eyes to Your leading all around me and equip me to see You at work around, though, and in me. Amen
As a lake-bound sailor in North Texas I’ve always imagined what it would be like to sail on open water. To have only the instruments to lead me or better yet to be skilled enough to navigate by the stars at night. I would love to know the competence to find a destination with a map and a compass. Truth be told, I get lost without GPS in my own city!
Jesus responded to the Pharisees request for a sign from heaven. They were pretenders just like me but without the Holy Spirit to open their eyes to who He was. What would a group of Torah-trained academics know about weather outcomes on the Mediterranean? They wouldn’t have known how to navigate an ocean, but they would have known the phrase; ‘When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ Jesus was outwardly frustrated that those who studied about Him all their lives but could not see who it was speaking to them. The God who directs the weather, who had just fed several thousand for the second time, who heals the blind, mute, demon possessed, lame and raised the dead; It is the Savior standing right in front of them and all they see is a man and ask for a sign. It is no wonder that Jesus, in frustration, states, “none will be given.”
Do I run the same risk? Do I drive right by the signs Jesus has left all around me? Am I working so hard to formulate my test for Him that I miss all the evidence that surround me? Do I spend my time buried in His Book but never see Him? I know the impact of the weather and how to read the sky at night and in the morning, but, am I listening to the One who made the weather, sky, night, and morning? He is LORD. His Word shouts His presence and His power. I better not miss Him in my seeking for evidence of His Deity.
Lord, open my eyes to Your leading all around me and equip me to see You at work around, though, and in me. Amen
by Robert Riggs, Elder
Posted in Read Through the Bible
Recent
Archive
2024
January
A FRESH STARTPOSTURE OF FAITHHEAVENLY BODIESTHE BLESSINGS OF THE RIGHTEOUSI AM WILLINGGOD'S SOVEREIGNTY OVERRULES MAN'S DYSFUNCTIONJESUS IS LORD OF THE SABBATHLIVE OUT WELL THE TEACHINGS OF JESUSHOLD IT CLOSEOPEN MY EYESWHO DO PEOPLE SAY WE ARE?NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GODWHAT IS YOUR IDOL?GOD'S CHOOSING
February
March
2023
January
WHO WANTS TO LIVE FOREVER?RESOLVING CONFLICT AND DEALING WITH EVILWHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU HAVE?GOD IS PROUD OF HIS SONPEACE IS A FUNCTION OF FOCUSTHE HEALING POWER OF JESUSGOD CALLS YOU BY NAMESMOKE AND MIRRORSBE A LIGHTWISE WORDSEXODUSCHOOSING THE RIGHT PATHGOD SEES AND HEARSWHO IS THE GREATEST IN THE KINGDOM?WARNING AGAINST FOLLY
February
March
HE HAS A PLAN FOR YOUTHE PLACE OF COMFORT AND SAFETYIT'S THE LITTLE THINGSBE ALERTMY GOD IS NOT TOO SMALLWHEN TO SPEAK AND WHEN NOT TO SPEAKGOD IS GRACIOUS TO USKEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUTSTAND STRONG FOR YOUR FAITHOUR HOPEDO I DO WHAT THE LORD ASKS OF ME?DON'T BE A SCHEMERA TREASURE HUNTLISTEN AND FOLLOWWORDS OF COMFORT OR WARNINGTHE POSSESSOR OCCUPIES AND FILLS THE POSSESSEDUNDIVIDED LOYALTY TO GODONE CONCESSION STAND
April
OUR GOD IS HOLY AND JUSTA CAUSE FOR OBEDIENCETELL THE COMING GENERATIONTHE PARABLE OF THE RICH FOOLSHINE YOUR FACE UPON USLISTEN UP!CHECK WITH GOD FIRST - HE KNOWS MORE THAN WE DOPSALM 86THAT IS ENOUGH SAIDDO YOU REMEMBER?TRANSITIONSSERVE ONE ANOTHERPROVERBS“Insignificant Does Not Equal Insignificant” (Judges 6)
May
JESUS IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU!FINISHING WELLARE YOU THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL AND DO NOT UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS?FORGETTING GOD IS DANGEROUS TO YOUR HEALTHREPENTANCE BRINGS MERCYGOD'S SOVEREIGN TIMING IS ALWAYS RIGHTWHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?A GODLY FATHERJESUS CARES FOR US - HE'S OUR SHEPHERDWHO DO YOU LISTEN TO?CARELESS SPEECHCONTINUE TO SERVE GODUNDIGNIFIED, HUMILIATED, AND GLORIFYING GOD!
No Comments