"BUT NOW MY EYE SEES YOU!"

Job 42:1-6                           (ESV)

"1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

2 "I know that YOU can do all things, and that no purpose of YOURS can be thwarted."

3 'WHO is this that hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 

4 'Hear, and I will speak; I will question YOU, and YOU make it known to me.' 

5 I had heard of YOU by the hearing of the ear, "BUT NOW MY EYE SEES YOU"; 

6 therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes."

Recently while studying John 21:1 I became entranced on the words "JESUS revealed HIMSELF"!  The words from Jeremiah 29:13, "You will seek ME and find ME, when you seek ME with all your heart", have encouraged me for years to continue "seeking" HIM.  So why is it that a body cannot "see" HIM when they desire to "see" HIM?  Why can't we determine when we are mature enough, have been hurt enough, or been through enough trials to see HIS MAJESTY?

Job is known in the Bible for the suffering he endured.  In Job 42:2 it is written "I know that YOU can do all things, and that no purpose of YOURS can be thwarted".  Job realized that GOD has the omnipotence to do as HE pleases.  GOD is also ALL-LOVING (1 John 4:7) and wants to bless us (Psalms 35:27-28) so why is it that sometimes we cannot see what it is HE is doing?  

The words from Job 42:5 was in a devotional this morning that spoke CLEARLY to me!  Job says in the first part of the verse that he had heard with his ear of GOD, but in the last part of the verse he says "BUT NOW MY EYE SEES YOU"!  When GOD's Plan has been fulfilled, and ONLY then, will HE reveal HIMSELF to us for HIS glory!  GOD does grow and mature us to become more devout servants, but HE only does so for HIS glory! 

Job said in verse six above that he despised himself, and repented in dust and ashes!  In Romans 5:3-5 the Apostle Paul writes "Not only that, but we REJOICE IN OUR SUFFERINGS, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because GOD's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."  Regardless of seemingly successful prosperity preachers, mega-churches, and ornate buildings, GOD is not attempting to display HIMSELF through health, wealth, and prosperity.  HIS desire is for us to say "BUT NOW MY EYES SEE YOU"! 

"CAST THE NET!"

John 21:4-8                          (ESV)

"4 Just as day was breaking, JESUS stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was JESUS.

5 JESUS said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered HIM, "No."

6 HE said to them, "CAST THE NET" on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.

7 That disciple whom JESUS loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the LORD!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the LORD, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off."

The disciples, or followers, of JESUS had been in a boat fishing on the Sea of Tiberias all night. Now in the days of JESUS there was no Rods and Reels, luxurious fishing boats, and electronic "fish-finders" to locate the fish that were hopefully caught.  Fishermen of old had to continually "CAST THE NET" into the water in an effort to be rewarded for their labor.  

When JESUS "revealed" HIMSELF to these disciples on this morning (they had been night fishing) they had not had tremendous success in their efforts!  JESUS asked if they had ANY fish, and they responded simply "NO"!  The disciples had followed JESUS and HIS ministry for three years, but still didn't recognize their Savior on the shore.  JESUS instructed the disciples to "CAST THE NET" on the right side of the boat and success would be found!

Now I am no educated fishing guide and do not profess to be, but just changing which side of the boat you "CAST THE NET" from seems a little oversimplified, if you ask me?  The disciples, still not knowing who JESUS was, obeyed HIS Word and their reward was ASTOUNDING!  In John 21:11 scripture indicates there were 153 LARGE fish caught!  There were so many caught that the disciples couldn't pull them into the boat, but had to drag them behind the boat to the shore!  

The disciples didn't use a different method or technique to lure the great reward into their nets!  They simply obeyed the Word of The Master to "CAST THE NET" on the right side of the boat and reaped a MAJESTIC reward!  Sometimes we get so caught up in doing things the way "we've always done them" that we can't hear the Words of The Master instructing us to "CAST THE NET" on the right side of the boat!  My prayer is my Spiritual eyes and ears will be keenly intent on hearing from Heaven and I will hear, if and when, HE instructs to "CAST THE NET"!

"LORD, SAVE ME!"

Matthew 14:22-33                           (ESV)

"22 Immediately HE made the disciples get into the boat and go before HIM to the other side, while HE dismissed the crowds.

23 And after HE had dismissed the crowds, HE went up on the mountain by HIMSELF to pray. When evening came, HE was there alone,

24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night HE came to them, walking on the sea.

26 But when the disciples saw HIM walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.

27 But immediately JESUS spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

28 And Peter answered him, "LORD, if it is YOU, command me to come to YOU on the water."

29 HE said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to JESUS.

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "LORD, SAVE ME."

31 JESUS immediately reached out HIS hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"

32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly YOU are the SON of GOD." 

It seems it is easier to trust in someone or something when it doesn't cost you anything.  The disciples has just witnessed JESUS feeding 5,000 men, not counting women and children, with 5 barley loaves and 2 fish, a young boys lunch.  JESUS had met the need of all of those people only hours before, but now the need was more personal and immediate!

The disciples saw JESUS walking on water and they were just a bit frightful!  Peter, in his usual self, wanted to walk on water with JESUS.  When JESUS told Peter "Come" he must have jumped at the opportunity to exhibit his faith.  Onto the water Peter went and began making his way to JESUS.  "But when he saw the wind", when he took his eyes off of JESUS, everything changed!  When Peter kept his eyes on JESUS everything was fine.  The wind was still blowing and the sea was still tossed, but everything was fine as long as Peter's eyes were on JESUS!  

Peter wanted to be the brave warrior, but FEAR was preventing that!  "LORD, SAVE ME" was all that Peter could cry as he began to sink.  But JESUS came to his rescue!   HE reached out HIS hand and took hold of Peter.  How comforting that must have felt, that JESUS, the Son of GOD, was keeping you from sinking in the troubled waters.  Why did Peter take his eyes off of JESUS?  GOD has a Plan and HE got glory from Peter's lack of faith!

For Peter's lack of faith to be exposed to the rest of the disciples must have been humiliating?  To have to cry "LORD, SAVE ME" for everyone to hear must have shown a dependence and reliance on JESUS that was unheard of?  My prayer is that I will be just as dependent and reliant on JESUS in my life as Peter was that night!  May I ever say, whether I am before danger or safe and secure, "LORD, SAVE ME!"

"BUT JESUS SAID!"

Matthew 14:13-21                           (ESV)

"13 Now when JESUS heard this, HE withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by HIMSELF. But when the crowds heard it, they followed HIM on foot from the towns.

14 When HE went ashore HE saw a great crowd, and HE had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to HIM and said, "This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

16 "BUT JESUS SAID", "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."

17 They said to HIM, "We have only five loaves here and two fish."

18 And HE said, "Bring them here to ME."

19 Then HE ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, HE looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then HE broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.

21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children."

JESUS had a way of performing miraculous deeds with seemingly no fanfare.  HE always seemed to nonchalant the miraculous, but keep in mind HE was there "in the beginning" (John 1:1) when the world was simply SPOKEN into existence!  According to scripture GOD simple "spoke" and it came to be, HE commanded and it stood firm (Psalms 33:9)!  HIS eyes saw from a Heavenly perspective while human eyes see from an earthly perspective.

The disciples eyesight only saw "a desolate place" (v. 15) with no hope of feeding the estimated 5,000 men, not counting the women and children (v. 21)!  But JESUS' Heavenly eyesight said "Bring them here to ME"!  Scripture doesn't record anything about the masses crying out in hunger.  There wasn't a big ceremony to celebrate to feeding of the multitudes.  As a matter of fact, when the meal was over JESUS "dismissed" the crowds and "went up on the mountain by HIMSELF to pray (Matthew 14:23)!  Spending time with THE FATHER was something JESUS valued, apparently much more than I do!

The fact that JESUS fed the masses was a miraculous feat!  The fact that HE "healed their sick" (v. 14) added to HIS mystique.  Later on in Matthew 14 JESUS would walk across water to HIS disciples during a storm and tell them "do not be afraid"!  JESUS wasn't limited by what other humans are limited to.  JESUS was/is GOD in the flesh and HE had "compassion" on everyone present, believers and unbelievers!  HIS miracles were not just for "church folks" but for ALL who were hungry.  HE didn't instruct HIS disciples to only feed the righteous, but to "give THEM something to eat"!  

JESUS fed 5,000 men, plus women and children, with the contents of what John 6:9 describes as the lunch sack of a boy.  HE was not limited by a seemingly insurmountable task!  When we are faced with a difficult situation what is our first response?  Do we try to solve the problem on our own by sending the crowds "into the villages"?  "BUT JESUS SAID" can solve many problems we face in our lives!  When we face "the impossible" we need to remember "BUT JESUS SAID" in Matthew 19:26 "With man this is impossible, but with GOD all things are possible." 

"A FEW THOUGHTS!!"

A few observations from quiet time this morning!

If the enemy can DECEIVE us into believing anything other than worshipping GOD JEHOVAH as our chief objective in life, he has us on a course of not elevating GOD to HIS rightful and appropriate THRONE!

If we focus on anything other than HOW GOOD GOD IS to us, we are either minimizing GOD or overemphasizing the things we SEE as problems.

"NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD!"

Romans 13:1-2                   (ESV)

"1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is "NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD", and those that exist have been instituted by GOD.

2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what GOD has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment."

A comedian in the mid-1970's made famous the phrase "the devil made me do it".  It is possible the comedian wanted people to have an excuse for bad choices they were making.  It seems modern-day governments across the earth are becoming increasingly secular and thinking less about GOD and HIS principles.  How can GOD continue to allow "leaders" that have little or no thought about HIM in their decisions?  I am convinced that GOD has a Plan!

To discover GOD's Plan for our lives the most reliable source is to study HIS WORD.  John 1:1 says "In the beginning was the WORD, and the WORD was with GOD, and the WORD was GOD."  When will we finally have revealed to us that the Spirit of the Living GOD is magnified when believers in HIM study and follow HIS WORD?  When will we understand that GOD desires to reveal HIMSELF in magnanimous proportions, but we have to desire "see" HIM more than anything?  And yet, we have HIS WORD put "under a bushel" because we either think we don't have time to honor HIM, or we are too ashamed to be associated with HIM?

It is no wonder that GOD has allowed mankind to "wander in the wilderness" with no direction or purpose in our destiny.  If mankind has no better sense than to choose leaders who make decisions based upon their own wisdom, then we will "reap what we sow"!  When we CHOOSE a path free from GOD and HIS direction, we are left with the products our own vision and wisdom.  That faulty, man-made "wisdom", has been exhibited since Adam and Eve to be lacking and unfulfilling.  When will we understand that WISDOM from GOD is the only thing that will satisfy?

Sometimes GOD has to allow us to "wander in the wilderness" until we are willing to turn back to HIM.  HE has allowed, and will allow, unscrupulous leaders to lead even HIS elect if HIS elect  refuse to look to, and trust in, HIM!  Those unscrupulous leaders should realize that there is "NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD" and that HE can require MUCH from them (Matthew 20:20-28)!   GOD "will be" glorified!  Ask King Pharaoh!  The children of Israel were in captivity for over 400 years as "NO AUTHORITY EXCEPT FROM GOD" was given to Egypt!  But when GOD decided to GET GLORY OVER PHARAOH AND ALL HIS HOST (Exodus 14:4), it wasn't "the devil that made them do it"!  .................

"THE WORD OF OUR GOD!"

Isaiah 40:7-8                   (ESV)

"7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. 

8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but "THE WORD OF OUR GOD" will stand forever."

The was an article recently in the local newspaper asking if a certain politician was too "reasonable" for his chosen political party "these days"?  The question caused me to consider, the certain politician will either have to be inline with "this world" and its increasingly sinful attributes, or the politician will be considered "out-of-touch" with mainstream voters!  Tolerance of anything other than the things of "this worlds" point of view will result in someone being considered a radical or "nut job"!!

"THE WORD OF OUR GOD" is not something that adjusts with mankind's whims though.   In Haggai 1:7 scripture records "Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider "YOUR" ways".  The Bible doesn't say that GOD changes HIS ways because mankind becomes more and more selfish and evil!  Our GOD wouldn't be much of a god if he changed his standards with every generations level of obedience!  What society approves of and what GOD approves of SHOULD  be closely aligned.  

Whether a politician, or any other part of humanity, agrees with, or even condones, our behavior is not what we should be concerned with.  "THE WORD OF OUR GOD" will stand forever and The HOLY BIBLE should be our measuring stick!  Humility would not be a problem if we were measuring ourselves against The Creator!  The problem may be that modern day man doesn't SLOW DOWN long enough to recognize and appreciate WHO is the "giver and sustainer" of life.  

HEAVENLY FATHER, cause me to seek YOUR face and acknowledge that without YOU in my life there is NO meaning!  Much like the grass that withers, and the flower that fades, our earthly  lives will pass like a vapor.  But "THE WORD OF OUR GOD" will stand forever!  Cause me to consider "my" ways, not others ways, and to line up with "THE WORD OF OUR GOD"!