PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Acts 28:23-31
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“They hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.” (Acts 28:27)
God formed the family of Abraham into the nation Israel, to bless the world (Genesis 12:1-3).
But as God’s blessed people, they forget who they were and what their purpose was.
According to Isaiah (7th century BC), their ears and eyes were closed to God.
Jesus applies this same warning to God’s people in his day (Matthew 13:1-17).
And Paul applies it to God’s people in Rome 20 years later… the same warning.
The warning is not that they’re not being religious – they were extremely religious.
But their religion made them blind and deaf, they were totally missing the point.
Is it possible that God’s people are still hearing but not listening, blind to Jesus?
I cannot speak for the church, but I have to apply this for myself.
Is it possible that my eyes and ears are closed to the Jesus I say I believe in?
Every Jesus follower needs to consider this thrice repeated warning for themselves.
If I am honest, the shape of my ‘religion’ does not resemble that of Jesus.
This is not about feeling guilt or shame, but it is provoking my heart to respond.
I don’t want to be religious, I want to genuinely see, hear, love and serve Jesus.
PRAYER
Lord, this prophecy of Isaiah is being repeated a fourth time for me today. Open my eyes and my ears, I want to genuinely see, hear, love and serve you!
It is difficult when you share and there is no response! Yet it is not ours to know what goes on in the heart. Yet it is often like what is recorded here: “hear with their ears, understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them” What we do and say can be used by the HS to work in the hearts of those listening. We should never give up but continue to be faithful messengers of the hope we have in Jesus. It is the HS’s work in the hearts that counts. Yet it is frustrating when the response seems to not be there! Lord help me to faithfully share by whatever means! May my words and actions be part of the way someone else may be prodded in their hearts to consider you Lord Jesus as the way!
Paul continued his service to the king proclaiming the good news inspite that there were those who did not hear or see or do or live according to the Word of the Lord. Each day anew I greet the Lord to serve Him another day. Throughout the day I need to see Him, to hear Him so that I can serve Him. That is only a possibility of an open heart. Heartfelt service. Walking in His SonShine each day anew. Walking with my Saviour as He leads and guides me.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You
To see You high and lifted up
Shinin’ in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy