Blessed are your eyes, because they see;
and your ears, because they hear.
Matthew 13:16 (NASB)
Series Focus: “Piece by Piece”
My eyesight has been compromised since I was a young child. Anyone who suffers from nearsightedness knows that seeing in the dark can be challenging. One childhood memory taught me this lesson on a new level and makes me laugh every time I think of it.
My sister and I camped out on the living room floor for the night. Snuggled in between our blankets and stuffed animals in the dark, we had the jibber-jabbers. In the middle of our excited conversation, I said to her, “Hold on! Let me put my glasses on so I can hear you.” I didn’t realize what I had said, but she busted out laughing. Truth be told, sometimes we do need to see better to hear better.
As we have journeyed through this series, “Piece by Piece,” we have visited many stories in the scriptures of individuals who, only seeing in part, took steps and made decisions. With anxiety, fear, confusion, and sometimes heartache, these people—much like us—moved forward only in what they could see and with the limited knowledge they had. Some sought God. Some did not. Some trusted God to lead them. Others relied only upon themselves. All had limited visibility.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus taught in parables. These stories included imagery and scenarios people identified with so they could picture the principles being taught. Hearing the stories, coupled with the visualization of them, yielded understanding and application of the truths taught. Today, we might call these sermons “object lessons.” In the Gospels, Jesus said many times, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
Jesus also said a lot about seeing first and then doing. In the Gospel of John 5:19-20 (HCSB), Jesus said:
I assure you: The Son is not able to do anything on His own, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son also does these things in the same way. For the Father loves the Son and shows Him everything He is doing, and He will show Him greater works than these so that you will be amazed.
Later in John’s Gospel, Jesus shares how He only speaks what the Father says (John 12:44-50). The seeing and doing and the hearing and speaking—it sounds like a game of Show and Tell, or Telephone, or an excellent Mentor/Mentee relationship. Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are One and together share a unified purpose, message, and passion.
Though our seeing and hearing are limited, as Paul wrote to the Corinthians, God has made the way for us to see Him in action through Jesus, hear His instruction in His Word, and be led in truth through the Holy Spirit. As we draw near to God—watching, studying, listening—He draws near to us. God opens our eyes and shows us things to come, and He opens our ears to lead us in His righteousness, as we seek to know Him more.
In Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV), Jesus said:
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Our vision becomes more accurate and the path before us more clear when we seek the Lord. He promises we will find Him when we seek Him and He will lead us. What questions do you have? What is blurry for you right now? Put on your glasses so you can hear better. Search for the Lord in the scriptures and open your heart to receive His instruction.
Seek Him. You will find Him. And you will find yourself in Him. He will hear your prayers, show you your next step, place you before the right people, and connect the dots for you. Piece by piece, He will put your picture together.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Matthew 7:7-8, 13:9, 16; John 5:19-20, 12:44-50, 16:12-15; 1 Corinthians 13:11; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Deuteronomy 29:29; Psalm 37:23; 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Proverbs 8:17; Jeremiah 29:13; Isaiah 55:6