Jesus – “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.” Matthew 13:16-17
Monday morning I made my way back to Rocky Mount to pick up my new glasses – both frames and lenses. So it’s not just new looking but a little bit of a new look.
I immediately noticed that my “sweet spot” (where everything is clear and in focus) is now huge in comparison to my old lenses. In the past I had to look directly at something to focus; now my field of vision – the scope of clarity – has changed from possibly 40% of the glass to more like 90%. I no longer have to use reading glasses when working at my desktop computer.
I grabbed the above photograph coming down North Main Street. I have always enjoyed this view but now it is even better.
It’s a little like I felt a couple of years ago, the first morning I wore my hearing aids. “Can you believe it?” I said to Rebekah. “The birds have been out there singing this whole time and I had forgotten!”
I thought about this first thing today before heading to the Men’s Bible Study. What I want us all to experience is a new sense of clarity when we are reading the scriptures and talking about how faith impacts our everyday lives.
Here is how I prayed: “Lord God please precipitate a confrontation with The Holy that challenges me (us) and changes me (us) at the heart of who I am (we are).”
When we see clearly, when we experience The Holy with undeniable clarity, we are seldom counseled by God to remain the same. Not just forty percent but one hundred percent. All in.
There are situations, and people, where I would love for God to suspend free will and impose change. But that is not God’s way. So I pray that The Holy Spirit will provide such clarity, such deep truth, that we cannot help but invite Jesus to lead us into newness of life.
When we see clearly, when we experience The Holy with undeniable clarity, we are seldom counseled by God to remain the same.
God is always in the business of leading us forward into newness and joy. The best really is yet to come – DEREK