Two Gifts….

“I opened two gifts this morning. They were my eyes.”

Zig Ziglar

The ability to see is a gift that we often take for granted.  This time of year it is such a joy to see all of the new growth and life that is happening in our world.  Just take a moment and think about all that we use our eyes for and all that it means to us.  The face of a loved one, the path that we travel, or the beauty of our world.  Now some of you may say that this view is colored by “rose-tinted glasses” because what I see is the pain and misery of people and the weeds that grow alongside the roadway.  How is it that two people looking at the same sight can “see” two different things?  The fact is that our eyes are more than just image collectors.  What our eyes behold is colored by what the mind and spirit are focused upon as well as the collective experiences we’ve had.  Wouldn’t it be great to actually possess a pair of glasses that really did help improve our view?  Unfortunately, we are responsible for doing the heavy lifting when it comes to our view and the best remedy for a sour outlook is to use our eyes to read what the Lord has told us. 

²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, ²³ but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! “

Matthew 6:22 (ESV)

In this passage Jesus is speaking to the crowds about Christian living, starting with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 and continuing through chapter 7 talking about the Godly wisdom of how to seek the Lord, treat others and to build a firm foundation.  It was important enough for Jesus to tell the people how to use their eyes back before the time of social media and the multiple temptations of today’s world.  How much more important is it for us then to be mindful of our view?  Jesus knew people.  He was fully aware of the nature of how a person’s eyes can influence his mind. 

“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.”

Proverbs 16:2 (ESV)

So today, be mindful of the two gifts that you open every morning – your eyes.

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

Proverbs 15:3 (ESV)