Fasting Devotional Day Thirteen: Friday, January 14, 2022 Text: Matthew 6:22-23
By Angie Brod
Thoughts:
Is your eye “good”? That’s the question you must ask yourself after reading Matthew 6:22-23. Jesus tells us that our eye is the lamp to our entire body. It lets light in. If it is good, healthy, and clear, your whole body will be full of light. If it is bad, unhealthy, or blind, you are filled with darkness. The older I get, the less “good” my physical vision becomes. I’ve always relied on contacts or thick glasses for distance, but now I need help seeing things that are nearby. Often, I hand my phone or recipe to someone younger so they can read it to me. If you are younger and you are around me, be ready! But what does Jesus mean when He teaches about a “good” eye? He isn’t speaking about our physical vision; He is speaking about our spiritual vision. How do you view the people and the world around you? Do you see through the lens of God’s Word and what He tells us is worthy of pursuit? Or do you let the world’s influence teach you what is valuable? I think we all know that what we take in through our eyes has tremendous power. The Bible warns against the lust of the eyes and tells us to guard our hearts and our minds by “taking every thought captive.” Don’t let in all the things that distort your vision! Instead, let in the good. What is it that you should see? You can only see one thing at a time. If you are spending your time and energy seeing the good things, you won’t have room to see the bad things. Scripture is very clear. We are instructed to see God. Romans 1 tells us we see God in His creation. “They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them…Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Seeing God inspires us to seek after Him with all our hearts. Scripture also makes it clear that we are to see one another. Mankind is God’s masterpiece! When we see other people, do we treat them as the masterpieces they are, or do we judge based on outward appearances? Do we love people enough to invest in their lives, to spend time with them? Most importantly, do we share with them the hope we have in Jesus?
Challenge:
· Get rid of the bad
o When you are letting something in through your eyes and you feel conviction, listen. Don’t rationalize and justify your actions; listen as God speaks Truth and then obey. He has something better for you!
o Be aware that some things, though not inherently sinful, just aren’t good for you. Social media can be an example of this. It can leave you feeling unhappy and discontent. It can also be a huge time waster. Pay attention to the role you are allowing media to have in your life.
o If you are dealing with something that has a stronghold on you, find a trusted believer with whom you can share your struggles - someone to hold you accountable.
· See the good!
o Spend some time in nature! Let God reveal Himself to you through His creation.
o Invest your time in praying and reading His Word – there is no better way to “see” someone than by spending time with them.
o Ask God to help you see people the way He does, to help you love them the way He does. Look for the person who needs a friend. At church, seek out someone you don’t know instead of staying in your comfort zone with people you already know.
The best way to love someone is to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with them. Who has God placed on your heart that you can share the Gospel with? Make specific plans to do this!
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