I have developed a bit of a mantra that is part of my prayer before I delve into God's word for devotion and study. The mantra is basically this: "open my eyes that I may see, open my ears that I may hear, open my mind that I may understand, and open my heart that I may be moved." While hardly an earth shattering prayer, it is still from the heart. Well, during my devotional time this morning part of that mantra took on another meaning. In John 1:35-42 we read:
Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour). One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone).
This is the story of Jesus' calling of His first disciples. As I was reading this passage I noticed one word, used twice, that spoke to me. In verse 36 we read that John was "looking" at Jesus. In verse 42 Jesus "looked" at Simon. Now this may sound a bit odd, for this simple word to jump out at me. But think about it for a moment. We "look" at people all the time. But when we do, what do we see? How they are dressed? What they generally look like? The car they drive? And so on. So often we look at the cover without seeing the book inside.
The word used here for looking/looked is the Greek word "emblepō" which has some interesting meanings. It can mean to "observe fixedly," to really focus on someone or something. It can also mean to "discern clearly." Jesus taught that while we may look at the outward appearance of a man, God sees the heart. When John truly focused on Jesus he saw the Lamb of God, the One sent for the pardoning of our sin. When Jesus loooked at Simon He saw not the gruff fisherman who would make so many mistakes in his life. Jesus saw the one who would become known as the Stone (Peter). Jesus saw what Simon Peter could be when God truly got a hold of him. By the way, in the language usage here, Cephas mean "The Rock," while John translates it "A Stone." Peter was not the ROCK on which we build our faith, but rather a piece of that Rock, a Stone usable by God.
It is amazing to think that God sees our hearts and potential. And He has a plan for each of us. When we find Him we can see with a whole new set of eyes. When Andrew went and followed Jesus, and really saw Him he gained an understanding of who Jesus is. Or as Andrew worded it "we had found (the word means to perceive) the Messiah." Let me ask you the questions I had to ask myself this morning. When I look at Jesus do I really focus on Him and perceive who He is and what He can do in my life? And, when I look at others, do I look with God's eyes, discerning clearly who God has created them to be rather than if they meet some criteria that I have set up?
Dear Lord, please open my eyes that I may see what You see. Amen!
No comments:
Post a Comment