Do You have Eyes that See?

Do You have Eyes that See?

“It has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” MATTHEW 13:11 

This was Jesus’ answer when His disciples asked Him why He spoke in parables when He taught. Jesus explained that not everyone is privileged to understand His teachings and the truths of His kingdom. We can’t know spiritual realities through mere physical senses. In fact, there is a profound difference between knowing through our own perception and understanding reality through spiritual eyes and ears. Sin doesn’t impede our ability to taste a meal or hear the doorbell. Sin, however, does dull our capacity to hear God’s voice and recognize His activity. Sin dulls our spiritual senses. There were many people in Jesus’ day who saw Jesus but who did not recognize the Son of God. Their physical sense of sight worked fine; their spiritual sight was blinded by sin. How are your spiritual senses? Could Jesus be working in and around your life but you’re not recognizing His activity? Could God be trying to get your attention but you’re not noticing? Could God be seeking to teach you a heavenly mystery yet you are not grasping it? Ask God to remove anything that is keeping you from recognizing all He is doing in your life today. - Blackaby Being Still With God 

After reading this from Blackaby, that title of the post came to me.  From that God took me to His Word. Matthew 13. 

And the disciples came up and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” And Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. And in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

‘You shall keep on listening, but shall not understand;
And you shall keep on looking, but shall not perceive;
For the heart of this people has become dull,
With their ears they scarcely hear,
And they have closed their eyes,
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
Hear with their ears,
Understand with their heart, and return,
And I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

So it is fairly obvious what Jesus said and is asking of you and I today. 

We live in a sensory overloaded world, and intentionally so. 

Satan's offensive weapons are within that realm. He is intentionally attempting to both distract us from the things of God, and to get us to do it to ourselves. With varying degrees of selfish thoughts and desires. The whole point being to remove the eyes of mankind off of God and to put them anywhere else. 

We who are in Christ are told in the Scriptures to set out minds on things above, not on the things of this world. Colossians 3:2 "Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth."

We are to dwell in specific things. 

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

To dwell means to linger. To be intentionally delayed. 

I am beginning a journey of a sorts to learn something that's eluded me most of my life. 

As weird or as odd as it may sound, I have never learned how to study. It's just not something that I have ever needed to do. I have always heard of those of my peers studying, but really have never had a firm grasp of it myself. 

Dr. David Jeremiah has a book series on most of the New Testament. I have always been drawn to the book of Romans. I recently received the Written Word Journal on the book of Romans. It's a unique book. On the right side you hand write your favorite version of the Bible's book of Romans. On the left you write what thoughts that brings.  This concept has its roots in the Old Testament. Kings were to spend much of their time writing their own copy of the Law. In order to keep it afresh within their hearts. 

This is but one method. 

Ephesians 5:19-21 "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ."

There's easily much better things our minds can be set on than useless thoughts about things of this world. In Heaven those there are there worshipping Jesus in person. Probably making petitions on our behalf after they arrive. They aren't dwelling on anything else. Christ is the center of their thoughts and their world. 

So where are your eyes?  Are you so consumed and concerned about this world that you have taken your eyes off Christ? Scripture says, that He who knows the good he ought to do but does not do it, sins. James 4:17.

Look at where your mind goes. As another Scripture says take your thoughts captive. 

2 Corinthians 10:3-6  " For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete."

Again, where have you set your mind?

Where have you set your eyes?