Notes of Faith April 29, 2025

Notes of Faith April 29, 2025

Spiritual Eyes

Because you say, “I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing”—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.

Revelation 3:17

Perhaps the saddest of the seven letters to the churches in Asia Minor was delivered to the church in Laodicea. This city was wealthy due to it being on one of the major trade routes of the region; it was a major banking center. Apparently, the Christians in the city had participated in the prosperity and saw themselves as being self-sufficient due to their wealth. While they may have been materially well-off, Christ saw them as being in great need spiritually: They were “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Their condition illustrates a principle in Scripture contrasting physical and spiritual eyes. This contrast was illustrated in the life of the nation of Israel. Because of their sin, they could see physically but could not perceive spiritually (Isaiah 6:9). Christ reaffirmed their spiritual blindness when He taught them using parables (Matthew 13:14-15). Just because we can see physically does not mean we always perceive spiritually and therefore truthfully.

Pray with the psalmist: “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law” (Psalm 119:18).

It is no advantage to be near the light if the eyes are closed.

Augustine

Matt 13:14-15

14 "In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,

'YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;

YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE;

15 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,

WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,

AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,

OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES,

HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,

AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,

AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.'

We do not know who will listen and hear, therefore, we must share with all, even if they mock, and scorn us and the message of God’s grace that we bring. They may some day come to faith…they will come to faith if they are the chosen of God. Let us keep working as the Father, the Son, and Spirit are working, exhausting ourselves for the sake of eternal salvation in Christ Jesus!

Pastor Dale