The Eye Doctor

“Then Jesus told them, I entered this world to render judgment, to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind.” John 9:39; (NLT) What Jesus said then, he is still saying to us. He came for a great revelation, one that would obliterate our thinking making us fit to take up his cause. As with the blind man, when Jesus heals the eyes he does so to reveal himself in a way as to involve us in a greater, more devoted worship (Jn 9:38). This revelation knowledge has the power to destroy speculations that severely limit our potential to believe him and see great and mighty things. It obliterates the thoughts and intentions of the heart that held us guilty and bound and of no use to God (Jn 9:41). ‘This knowledge’ truly is power to remove the blindness we so easily stumble over. I don’t know about you, I can only speak for myself, but I need the “eye doctor” who can remove my limitations caused by sin and failure to see things clearly. I need the eye doctor!  He changes my view so that I might be able to see from his perspective thinking less of myself and more of him. He changes my slavish thoughts and the way that I think in an incorruptible fashion consistent with his potential to overcome my inadequacies. And finally, he changes my motives and the intentions of my heart, so that I am no longer stumbling for bread, but I’m owning the things that he gives me, so I may be used to reveal His cause and His glory. Do you need the eye doctor? If so, get in line and be willing to wait your turn. Get everything else off your agenda, you just need to see him.   He will come to you, and He will find you at your lowest point when you cry out to him. And If you’re wiling, he will show you great things you did not see.

All Because of the Son

While recently waiting at an airport with my wife and son, I reflected upon a story my wife had told me some 18 years before during a holiday visit home to Texas when we were living in Maine. My wife was always a good-mother to be there for her children; she took great pleasure in seeing our children were well clothed, well taught and well cared for (something I will always honor her for).  Isn’t it interesting in a world that says, ‘woman get out there and make something of yourself’ your real blessing will depend on your children and what they say about you.  On this particular occasion, she was traveling alone with our children.  She would often dress them alike or in coordinated outfits. A well remembered favorite of mine were the little denim dresses my two daughters wore to match my son’s blue denim hat… all that to say, she was making a statement that said to the world around her, “these are distinctly mine”.  As I’d reminisced about the story she once told me, I got her to tell it to me again.   It seems her plane was late in arriving to make a late night connection for Dallas.  When they arrived at the very large metropolitan airport they got turned around and had to run hand in hand to the connecting gate.  When they finally found their gate, the attendant said that the plane had already left. My wife realizing there were no more planes out, leaving her and our 3 children stranded in a strange airport, began to cry as they walked about holding each other by the hand.  The cries were tears of what if, and why, and how come.  As tears continued to flow, my wife felt my son’s small hand begin to gently pat her face. Isn’t that like the son, a loving touch to say, ‘I’m here, it’s okay we’re together it’s going to be alright….’ My son always did have a very good sense of direction!  A short time past and a very important looking man came by and saw her crying.  He was moved as he saw her tears and the children holding hands beside her.  He asked what was wrong and she proceeded to tell him the story.  “Quickly”, he said, “come with me.” Understanding there were no more planes to Dallas leaving out that night and her dilemma, he got on his radio speaking to someone all the while whisking them downstairs and onto the tarmac. She said from there he put them on little cart and drove them at full speed across the runway to board a plane that He had held up to take them aboard.  As she re-told what happened, I had to choke back the tears, but I was moved by the reminder God uses small things to tell one very big story.  He reminded me that while I could not be there, He was able to use my only son to accurately convey His love and sentiments!  I believe He is saying to you, ‘I see you in your tears and I understand your problem, I’m here, it’s okay we’re together it’s going to be alright….trust Me!’.  I believe the Father wants to say, ‘I’m going on ahead of you, moving on your behalf and if you’ll trust Me, I’m holding some things up to get you where you need to be.  It may not be the most comfortable means, but if you’ll trust Me it will be okay.  It will be better than okay, it will be a testimony of My Unseen Power that moves others and moves out ahead of you to change what you cannot foresee.’  ‘You must trust me and receive my touch and the Son of My Love.’  ‘He has the mantle of my blessing and is able to touch you offering comfort in your long standing pain.  Believe Him and trust Me.’  There is and should be a moral to every story, but how seldom we see it as we stand blinded by our fears and our tears.  God says receive the touch and obtain the promise.   What about your story?  God is writing a story on the pages of your life– a story little different from the one I just told.  I’m so moved sometimes when my wife tells me of these little miracles of how she believed God’s hand was moving in her life. Our lives are always better for having acknowledged how the hand of God moves on our behalf helping us in times of trouble!  This little story has been stored away in my files for months; I kept coming back to it, but couldn’t delete it because of the truth it conveys. I believed God saved this story for your benefit, so that you might see in your sorrow, when in your tears, the Spirit of Jesus gently comes alongside you to touch you and say, ‘I’m here, it’s okay we’re together it’s going to be alright… Trust Me!’  Today in your struggle, don’t fail to see Jesus; He’s there beside you; He walks with you; He moves ahead of you, to command your miracle in spite of you, and to open what has been shut, and to shut what has been opened!  He’s waiting for your response of complete trust, and through it He is moving to bring forth your story–a unique testimony of His advancing power that comes in your present circumstance to say to you, “You are distinctly Mine, all and only because of the Son!”  Trust Jesus today and don’t miss this opportunity; God saved it especially for you!

The Value of God’s Thoughts

Just what is the surpassing value of knowing God and thinking His thoughts?  Jesus says in John 14:1, ‘Believe in God, believe also on Me’. The benefit of this well placed trust is a heart that receives comfort amid troubling circumstances and a mind that cannot fail to accomplish great things for His Kingdom.  I had this thought and I believe it is for you….Give God your mind and His thinking will develop your actions to do exceedingly beyond anything you could think as possible! Someone said recently when speaking to a group of young believers:  How valuable is your life? How valuable is your walk with God and just how will God carry forth His word and advance His message, if not with you?  Son, Daughter–Your life is highly valuable in God’s hands; give Him your mind, think on His word and in faith you will believe and do what is only possible with Him!

Redeem Us For Your Glory

Man wishes a change he can believe in, which usually means something he can see and have on his own terms. God says believe in Me because only I can redeem what men would reject. He says, ‘I have the power to redeem the discarded, the broken, the warped; and on My terms will I turn it to a thing of beauty….’ Redeem our waste places Lord to become a testimony that You live there.  Change our dry, cracked land to receive the Good seed well watered by an understanding of Your love so deep, that we should yet bring You glory!