Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 19, 2019
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. 1 John 3:1
I once watched a documentary in which crime investigators studied how people report crimes. What they found was that two people could witness the exact same car accident, robbery, or carjacking at the exact same time from the same location and see it totally differently. Their reports might even be contradictory.
This got me thinking about how two people can hear the same thing and hear it totally differently, too. For example, two people can read God’s Word, and one person, through that reading, becomes convinced that God deeply loves and cares for them while the other person who reads comes to believe that God is uncaring and unkind. Why does this happen?
In addition to the drawing that happens when the Holy Spirit woos us to Christ, the condition of our heart plays a huge role in how we see God. In Ephesians 1:18-19, Paul writes:
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
Isn’t this amazing? This scripture from Paul reveals that seeing hope in the future God has prepared, believing He has a glorious inheritance for us, and that He has incomparably great power toward us is a head thing and a heart thing—all by faith.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
You see, you “see” God’s truth with your heart. This is how two people can read the exact same words in the Bible and perceive them completely differently.
With the eyes of the heart, you see Christ, either with the truth enlightening your perspective, or you see Christ darkly, through a lens tainted by the lies of the Adversary, by unbelief, by worldly perspectives, or through the shadow of life’s disappointments. When you read God’s Word, the eyes of your heart will affect how you interpret it.
The Adversary wants to twist what God has told and promised you so that you perceive Him as harsh, unloving, condemning, judgmental, passive, or uncaring.
But He is love.
And every word on every page of the Word was written to convince you of His love. Every word was written to uplift, enlighten, strengthen, correct, guide, exhort, help, give hope, and draw you to Christ.
If there are times when you struggle with believing that God loves you, just look at the cross. A mere man would never die for someone he does not love. But when Jesus died for you, how great was that love!
“For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Prayer
Lord, help me to walk by faith and not by sight. Please help me to guard my heart with all diligence so that I can see you and your truth clearly. Thank you for loving me, Lord and thank you for the power of your Word. Amen.
Application
When you sit to read Scripture, ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the eyes of your heart so that you can perceive His promises and truth rightly.
Related Reading
2 Corinthians 4:6; Hebrews 4:12; 1 John 4:9-10; Proverbs 4:23
Post/Tweet today
By faith the eyes of our heart allow us to see Christ’s patient love for us. #WisdomHunters #seeChrist
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5 minute video- Michael W. Smith:
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