Reading With the People of God #12 - the Good LifeSample

Open Our Eyes

Following the prophet Elijah, we will read of Elisha's troubles because of the truths he shared with the Lord. However, instead of being fearful, we find he recognized his safety in the Lord. To comfort his assistant, he prays for his eyes to be opened to the truth that the angels of the Lord are not just a comfort but also an army battling in our stead. Inversely, we see the eyes of those who do not know the Lord closed and led by the prophet to their captors. Instead of retribution, their eyes are opened to the mercy of the Lord.

In Matthew, we will read a beautiful prayer by Jesus to open the eyes of the innocent over those who are accomplished. He clearly shares His relationship with the Father, God. The prayer also invites us to ease into choosing to come to the Lord for a relationship and walk in the freedom of His protective and restful care.

Once again, Jesus is confronted by the legalistic religious leaders. In Jesus’ response, He challenged the Pharisees with their own practice of complicating the simple message of God and flaunting their knowledge. But He reminded them of the laws they uphold so well and how they do not always fit the situation. Reminding them of their own history, Israel was confronted with the idea of loyalty over the traditional sacrifice found in Hosea 6:6. Using that scripture, Jesus reminds them of the importance of putting relationship and God’s authority over the laws that had been created.

Another opportunity was provided to open their eyes to the truth of God in a relationship that was more valuable than the regulations the Pharisees held as the highest standard. However, they were tethered to the letter of the law and could not see the hypocrisy they upheld. They even tried to confuse the people who were beginning to see and question the validity of who Jesus was. Our reading will end with the start of a poignant rebuttal demonstrating that even the religious leaders who were supposed to be the closest to God had their spiritual eyes closed to the truth.

Today, pray for the truth of God to open your eyes to all He has for you.

* Primer contributed by Gaylyn Mott, Teacher, Musician, Yarn Artist, Member of Cornerstone Community Church