The Work of Man

Psalm 115 says 

Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.
They have mouths, but they cannot speak;
They have eyes, but they cannot see;
They have ears, but they cannot hear;
They have noses, but they cannot smell;
They have hands, but they cannot feel;
They have feet, but they cannot walk;
They cannot make a sound with their throat.
Those who make them will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them.

Figurines, gold and trophies, wealth and fame, are all “idols” of sorts that people worship or put faith in, or hope to be successful with.  But all of these are inanimate objects or things that cannot do a thing to respond to us when we cry out for help, when we lift up our voices in praise, or when we fall before in honor.  So why do we worship them?

God is real.  He speaks, he hears, he smells (our prayers and faith are a sweet aroma to him), he feels, he walks (in fact, he runs when he see us turn toward him), he roars, he shapes, he forms…

The saddest part of this passage is that those who worship these idols become like them – unable to hear, speak, smell, etc – in other words – their senses become dull and they become lethargic and unheard by the end of their days – with nothing to leave to anyone behind them.

But the converse is true – that when we worship the living, breathing, loving God we become like him – full of life forever.

What and in whom are you placing your trust? 

His Ears

II Samuel 2:27 starts off our next group of devos on ears:

In my distress I called upon the Lord, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears.

What a verse to start out with!

When we are in distress and call upon our God, when we cry out, he hears.

Haven’t you ever yelled at your kids (or your spouse) and accused them of not listening?  I have.  They hear but they don’t listen, because they’re preoccupied, tune us out, or just aren’t interested in what we have to say.  And that sort of response is not validating one bit.

However, we are going to start off with a truth – that God hears our pleas for help.  And when He hears he goes to work at responding in His way, in His time – not ours.

That’s the rub, the rub we don’t like.

However, God doesn’t answer us like man does – with whatever we want to hear, or give us an answer but then no action, or give us the wrong answer altogether – he answers and solves our problems.

Isn’t that what we want?

God hears.  His ears are never deaf.  And his heart is always connected to what he hears.

Every Tear

I’m concluding my set of devotions on the eyes with this verve from Revelation

"…for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

I cry when I’m lonely, when I’m disappointed, etc.  Crying releases tension, but that’s about all it does.  It doesn’t heal.

However, there’s coming a day when those tears won’t be necessary or even evoked any more, because all sorrow will be non-existent. 

Can you imagine that?  Nothing will make us cry tears of sadness, because our hearts, minds, and souls will be completely full in the presence of God in our new state of being.

What will that look like, to have God wipe away our tears?  Will his hands be soft and gentle, will they smell of the flowers he’s been tending, will they hold us when he’s through wiping our tears?

Yes, to all of the above.  

His hands will lead us, hold us, bless us, and guide us to sit with him forever…never to cry again over spilled milk…or anything else that’s gone wrong.

Blinders

I John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

There are certain things we don’t have to wonder about. And this verse tells us some of these things:

Lust of the flesh (looking at opposite sex and desiring what does not belong to you)

Lust of the eyes (looking at anything with deep desire that only satisfies for the moment)

Boastful pride of life (taking credit and glory for the good things you enjoy)

Those three attitudes and focuses are not from the Father.  In other words, if those types of attitudes rule our days and time then we aren’t experiencing the life the Father has for us – and we will constantly be dissatisfied, weary, and discontent.

God has called us to focus our eyes on Jesus, on the spiritual (things that last), on the Giver of all things good and not the gifts – and if  placing blinders on our eyes (like we do on horses so they don’t get spooked) helps us only look forward instead of side to side at all of the distractions along our paths, then that's what we need to do!

How do we do that?  

We peer into his Word and allow His Spirit to dwell within us, so that what we desire is what He desires, and then we are satisfied, energized, and content with our relationship with Him.

Attending Ears

I Peter 3:12 says “For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears attend to their prayer, But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

I was just talking with a friend today about how we put a “penny in the slot” when we pray and we expect a colorful round piece of juicy bubble gum to fall into our hands when we turn the dial toward heaven.  However, when we get nothing for our penny in the slot, we start to question God’s goodness and wonder if he’s even listening at all.

He is listening.  In fact, it says here that those who love Him have his full attention – he attends to our prayers!

It may appear that those who do evil are prospering, and they may experience success here in what they do.

However, our prayers are always heard and God is always at work to conform us into His image, that image that will last into eternity, that image that will never die, and that image that is like Him.

So if he’s not talking out loud to you today or nodding his head toward your requests, be at peace.  He’s at work to make all things work together for good.

Even when He’s silent.

For the Joy

Hebrews 12:2 … fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Haven’t you often wondered how Jesus was able to endure the shame, the beatings, the rejection and the death he experienced on earth?  I have.  I’ve wondered it about others too who have been beheaded, tortured, beaten, and killed all because of their faith. 

This verse answers that question.

Their eyes were fixed.  Jesus’ eyes were fixed on obedience to the Father, and martyrs have their eyes fixed on Jesus, the one who died for them and conquered the sting of death.

These all grasped the concept that there was a greater joy coming for those who endure, when death is no more, and when obedience is complete.

Sometimes my eyes wander away from being fixed on Him, when I look around at the horror of the stories on the news, the devastation in cities that are destroyed by weather, or when I learn of a family member of friend going through a difficult time.

However, fixing our eyes on Jesus is a must and the only way to life…in a dying world.  It’s a choice we have to make, to turn back around and gaze into those loving eyes that gave it all so we could live.

Greater joy awaits those who endure, with their eyes fixed on Him.

Enlightenment

Ephesians 1 says, I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in  saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might.

Did you know that your heart has eyes?  Some people have closed hearts and closed eyes because of hurt, neglect, or abuse.  They are no longer able to see goodness or even receive love, because the eyes of their heart are shut.

This verse is a prayer for our eyes to be opened and “enlightened” so that we will see what?

The hope of His calling (restore hope brings life)

The riches of his glory (our inheritance as his children)

The greatness of his power (that surpasses all we can imagine)

If your heart’s eyes are closed because of any reason, ask God to open them to His gifts that he has to you – not to what’s missing or damaged or dead in your life.  He will be faithful to reveal to you (much like pulling back a thick heavy curtain that has shut out all the light) so that you can see what’s in store for your future – in his hands – and it's all good.

Closed Eyes or Open?

Acts 28 says For the heart of this people has become dull,

And with their ears they scarcely hear,

And they have closed their eyes;

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

And hear with their ears,

And understand with their heart and return,

And I would heal them.

Once I’ve seen something with my eyes, it’s not likely that I will forget it.  I know that even in movies (which I see a lot of), there are certain scenes that are forever etched into my memory because I saw them with  my eyes.

Once our eyes are opened to the things and character of God (his love, mercy, holiness, etc.) we then are responsible to do something with that which we have seen.  If a crime is committed and we didn’t see it, then that’s one thing.  But if we see it and say nothing, that’s another. 

When we pray for our eyes to be opened and we then realize and see and experience Him, there’s no going back.  We then want to run toward all that He has for us and for others, because there are powerful effects that take place once the eyes have seen.

Lord, open our eyes so that we understand, return, and are healed…and then we can lead others to receive the same healing we have experienced.

Stumbling Eye

Matthew 18:9 might be the most stern verse in the bible about eyes:

If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter life with one eye, than to have two eyes and be cast into the fiery hell.

Wow, I’ve never considered plucking my eyes out.

I think the message here is clear though.

Life is no good if what we see causes us to be jealous, worship other things, go after wealth with greed, lust for what we shouldn’t have, or condemn those whom we deem to be “below” us.

In fact, a life with an eye that runs toward evil will soon be our own destruction, and that’s why this verse says we’re better off plucking “that” kind of eye out of heads!

Our eyes, as physical as they are, must peer into his Word and then our hearts must yearn for him and his ways, if we truly want to see how to live abundantly here on earth, and forever after that.

Don’t let your eye cause you to stumble and fall…just look away and toward Him.

Look Up

Isaiah 40:26 

Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.

When’s the last time you observed just the stars?  

God is like a conductor who leads the starry hosts and sets them into their places in the night sky – and it says here that he knows them all by name. What?

There is no minute detail of the sky, or of our lives, that God is not aware of.

There is nothing that goes missing from his all-seeing eyes, not one thing that his mighty power cannot make right in due time.

It’s that “due time” that we all struggle with, as we wait for his power to set things right.

Tonight, look at the stars and observe how they are set, they are called, and they are placed.

And don’t lose hope, because the God of the universe created YOU in his image – not the stars – and he even more carefully watches over you.

Amazing concept, isn’t  it?

The Coming

Isaiah 29 says about a coming day that will be quite awesome…

On that day the deaf will hear words of a book,

And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.

 The afflicted also will increase their gladness in the Lord,

And the needy of mankind will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

I can’t imagine being deaf and then being able to hear for the first time – the voices of those you love, the music that you only felt the rhythm to before…

I can’t imagine being blind and then being able to see the faces of your family, the beauty of a sunrise, or the colors of the spring…

I can’t imagine being afflicted with a physical disability and being able to suddenly walk, leap, run, and lift arms, wiggle fingers, and turn necks…

However, there’s a day that’s coming when all of us who are needy will be needy no more, because we will be changed to be forever whole and able and well forever…even those of us with no physical ailments at all…but who are all broken from wounds from life.

It’s coming…

Set Eyes

Proverbs 23:5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.

When we fix our eyes on stuff and things and wealth, we all know that in a flash it can vanish.  Jobs come and go, our economy rises and falls, money stacks up and slips away, and sometimes disasters come and wash or burn it all away.

Then we read a picture of what wealth looks like personified like an eagle – it flies off – into oblivion.

If our eyes are fixed on things that are unstable, it will cause us to waiver in our faith, and fall.

But if our eyes are set on things above – eternal things like love, faith and hope – these things take root and grow, and grow, and grow and never fade.

Where are your eyes set today?

Bright Eyed

Proverbs says 

Bright eyes gladden the heart;
Good news puts fat on the bones.

There’s another verse that says a merry heart is like medicine.  

Bright eyes are a result of a merry heart, which is a result of good news…

If you’re feeling anemic, anorexic, or just plain apathetic spiritually, you need some good news.

That good news is that Jesus loves you, right where you are, and he can do something to lighten your load – just give it up to Him – and lay aside worry, fear, and shame.  He died for YOU.  And now he lives for YOU.  He is FOR you.

That news ought to brighten our eyes and fatten us up so that we’re strong and able and alive and well…

The Hate List

Proverbs 6 There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood,

A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

I’ve always wondered why these six things, how did these specifically make God’s hate list?

It’s interesting that they all have to do with our senses or the parts of our body that we use to move and live.

Eyes, tongue, hands, heart, feet – then the tongue again.

Three times the tongue is mentioned – when we lie, spread lies and cause strife with our lies.

If we just work on this one thing, we can accomplish a lot, because it’s an evil heart that causes the tongue to do these evil things, to send our feet out towards evil, or to prompt our hands to harm.

Out of our hearts our mouths speak.

Where are our hearts focused and turned, and to whom do they belong? 

When I let out an ugly comment, I immediately know what’s in my heart, and it’s usually judgment, hurt, or believing a lie about myself or the person to whom I’m talking.

Our hearts are deceptively wicked and they absolutely are connected to our tongues.

I don’t want any part of my body to among the things on God’s hate list, do you?

Open Eyes

Psalm 146 The Lord sets the prisoners free.

The Lord opens the eyes of the blind;
The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;
The Lord loves the righteous;
The Lord protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked.

We can join clubs, organizations and give to worldwide missions – which are all good and necessary things to do – to see people rescued and set free.

However, it’s the LORD who does the final work of freedom, vision, lifting, loving, protecting, supporting and protecting.

Our efforts and our giving must be joined up with faith and prayer to the Lord to swoop in and love those we are praying for, because without the love of the Father those we rescue and help will slip back into bondage once we’re gone or through.

No one loves the unlovely more than He does.  Prayer AND works are a great combo, and we can’t do the works  completely without the prayer.

The Lord.

His Eyes

Psalm 139

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;

And in Your book were all written

The days that were ordained for me,

When as yet there was not one of them.

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How vast is the sum of them!

God’s eyes have been on us since before we were formed in our mother’s wombs.  In fact, his thoughts toward us were there before we could think for ourselves.  And his thoughts toward us are all precious.  We couldn’t even count them, they are so numerous!

On a day when we are feeling low, without purpose, wondering if anyone cares, or if anyone sees us, we can know that yes HE sees us, he saw us, and he will continue to see us for all of the days of our lives.

That fact alone should encourage us to live, look, learn, and love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls so that we live our days fulfilling those thoughts God had for us from the beginning.

What are you doing, today?  Ask Him to share his thoughts toward you with you, and listen.  Then get up and go and do and be, for you are full of purpose and you can change the world.

Gracious Master

Psalm 123 To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!

 Behold, as the eyes of servants look  to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God,

Until He is gracious to us.

Servants and Maids – when they’re in a television show in an old British setting – in an old manor of a house with stairways and parlors – we love to watch them do their work as they take care of their masters and their households, don’t we?  It’s quite fascinating, for some reason.

The master of a house hires, fires, hands out duties, and pays those who work for him to run his house.  They look to him for direction and for provision, and they aim to please.

In the same way, we look to God.  But the cool thing is that in his grace and mercy he has called us sons and daughters, and we are called to dwell with him and receive not only his direction and provision, but all of his inheritance he freely shares with us.

Lift up your eyes and look to Him.  He is full of grace and mercy to us his servants and to us his children, because he is truly our good Master and good Father.

This is It

Psalm 118 This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Do you ever wake up and open your blinds, look outside, see the sun or the clouds or the rain, and comment to yourself, “This is the Lord’s doing?”

We should practice this daily.  When we wake up, and we breathe, and we move our legs, and we see where we’re going, and we hear the first sounds of the morning, and we observe His handiwork…we need to realize it’s the Lord’s doing and it’s marvelous.

We need to marvel at what he does for us daily, every moment, every hour, every day.

I know that when I do this I do feel like rejoicing in the day, instead of complaining from the start.

When we fail to do this, we go through the motions, we get in the car, we arrive at our destination and our minds are completely full of worry, anxiety, fear and angst, all because we failed to realize the marvelous beginnings to our day and where they originated.

Rejoice.

Be glad.

Marvel.

I Will

Psalm 101: I will walk within my house in the integrity of my heart.  I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will know no evil.

These are some pretty amazing declarations, aren’t they?  But there are times when we need to state our intentions regarding how we will walk, how our family will walk, and what we will do in this crazy world in which we live.

I will walk with integrity.

I will not look at worthless stuff.

I won’t be pulled away and taken hold of by stuff.

I will shun evil.

Those are hard to uphold when we are constantly bombarded with stuff, the desire to attain and acquire stuff, to get stuff at any cost, and to hold onto stuff as our value and our worth, and to follow after stuff.

Did you get tired of reading the word “stuff?”  I did too, because it’s worthless.

Sometimes, it’s a good thing to take stock of our lives and what we value and run after . And then together as a family, it’s a good thing to reevaluate and redirect.

Toward Him

Psalm 25:15 My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will pluck my feet out of the net.

I have never had my feet tangled in a net, physically, but I can imagine it wouldn’t be fun at all.  I’d be unable to walk, I’d panic, and I’d need a rescue – someone with huge scissors to cut the net and set me free.

However, I have been tangled in messes that I got myself into, hoping and wishing I’d made a different choice, and needed a rescue from Him – a true miracle of a release.

There is really no other place to look and no other reason to look elsewhere, because from the Lord is our source for every good thing in life.

Where are you continually looking?

Are your feet tangled up and you can’t get free?

The Lord is near and waiting and ready…just look at Him...and receive his rescue.

Pure & Enlightening

Psalm 19:8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.

Do you want enlightened eyes?  Eyes that look up?

The way to have eyes that look up are to know his ways, his words, and his commands.

Very often we are dismayed because we are anemic, we haven’t been feasting on the truth of the word.  At least, I know that’s true for me.  If I go days without reading and digesting his words for me, I become discouraged.

There’s no need to live that way.

His word is light and causes our eyes to look up and our hearts to rejoice.

His commandments are the purest form of “how-to” live if we just obey them.

Look up, rejoice, and digest his word today.

You’ll also end up with a spring in your step!