Spiritual Squinters

October 20

(Luke 24:31 NIV) “Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him…”

(Luke 18:35-43 NIV) ““As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. {36} When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. {37} They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by." {38} He called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" {39} Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" {40} Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, {41} "What do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he replied. {42} Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has healed you." {43} Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.””

(Ezekiel 12:2 NIV) “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.”

Yesterday we saw the sovereignty of God, but today let’s think about the free will of man. These two may appear to be incompatible, but they are really like two sides of the same coin. The Lord cures our blindness, but we must be willing to open our eyes. In His sovereignty, God gives us that choice. Jesus gives us sight and reveals Himself to us, but many do not want to see Him up close. Some prefer a fuzzy view of God. They become spiritual squinters. This allows them to keep God looking distant and indistinct. Clearly seeing Jesus changes us, and many of us don’t want to change. Open your eyes, Christian. Join the blind beggar in saying, “Lord I want to see.” Exercise your free will and gaze upon the face of Christ. Let His light fill you. Don’t be a willing partner in vision impairment. Don’t live your life as a spiritual squinter. Jesus is near. Open your eyes! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day