Father, I worship you and give YOUR Name the praise. For you alone are worthy of all the praise. I invite you to step in this place and take control. I submit to Your will, Your Word and Way. Holy Spirit direct my steps and guide me on my way. What is it that I can do for You, the Body of Christ and the Kingdom today.
Father, my prayer today is that we may see. Lord, Help Us to See! Lord, Help Us to Look and See! Oh, that we may see as you see and look as you look. Deliver us for the thing(s) that hinders our ability to see. Remove the scales from our eyes. Guide us with Your eyes; give Father that prophetic eye. Fix our gaze toward heaven, allow us to speak in the world and declare Your Word. Oh, that we may live and be holy even as you are holy.
Today's Key to Walking in the Spirit
Question:
Are you aware your life is being watched? What are others seeing and looking when they watch you?
Our ability to see (spiritually and naturally discern) is a powerful key to praying and walking in the spirit. We need to possess seeing eyes that not only see but look. Seeing is visually discerning. However, looking is the act of turning one's gaze towards or calling one's attention toward someone or something. Our ability to visually discern (recognize) does not necessarily mean we possess the ability to look (call attention to) or vice versa. Isaiah 6:9-10 and Mark 4:12 tells why our ability to see and hear are vital parts of our spiritual walk. Mark 4:12 says, "they may be ever seeing but never perceiving," the two do not automatically co-exist. Though the do not automatically co-exist they can be developed and fine tuned. It is vital to develop sight so we can turn and be forgiven.
Thought for Today
Now, let's look at two men who visually impairments that disabled them. Blind Begging Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) and Zacchaeus, the rich Chief Tax Collector/sinner. I want you see (recognize) that I have deliberately labeled and described Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus. I am going call your attention to their physical location-Jericho. Jericho is the land of promise, it is the first city captured and destroyed by the Israelites and Joshua (Joshua 6). It is this land in which God miraculously gives His chosen people (recall how the walls of this fortified city crumbled with a shout.) They utterly destroyed Jericho, all the inhabitants saved Rahab, the harlot (ancestor of Jesus) and her family. Joshua cursed anyone who would venture to rebuild it. However, Jericho appears to have significant prominence in the Bible as a place of restoration, spiritual miracles, and activity for Jesus.
Let me call your attention to a fact, both Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus attained some notoriety in the town of Jericho. Both were known to the people. Both had physical impairments that prevented them from seeing Jesus. Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus had both heard Jesus was passing their way. Both had to take some action to turn towards Jesus. Bartimaeus lacked the ability to see, so he yelled and screamed. Zacchaeus, a very short man, climbed up a tree to see Jesus without obstruction. These men discerned they needed to see. Both position himself strategically to achieve their objective--seeing. Both Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus are one among a throng of people yet Jesus is completely of aware of their presence. These men's pressing need to see caused Jesus' to look at their situation and grant their request. Both men received total restoration. Their restoration is a turning point or tipping point for the masses. What Jesus does for them turned the entire crowd towards restoration and relationship with God.
Finally, let's look and see the crowd. Notice the crowd is also aware and awaiting Jesus. However, their awareness and anticipation are not the things that bring restoration or relationship with God to them. As you read the text. you will see there are those in the crowd that allow their attention to be called away. Some even take the time to chastise Bartimaeus assisting that he shut. Others in the crowd whispered about the sins of Zacchaeus. The vast majority never knew that what Jesus would do for Bartimaeus and Zacchaeus would bring deliverance to them. Lord, help us to look and see.
Today's Scripture Reading (Luke 18:43 NIV)
Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.
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