“Again Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes. The man looked intently and his sight was restored and he saw everything clearly.” – Mark 8:25
I have a real bad habit of not noticing some things. Not long ago, we were sitting at the table and I commented on how nice the flowers were on the table. I looked over and Stephanie simply had a sly grin, but didn’t say anything. I then asked if they were new and where they came from. That’s when she looked at me and through muffled laughter, told me they had been there, right in front of me, for weeks!!!
What!?! I couldn’t believe it! No way they have been there this whole time. How could I have missed them? Then I began looking on the table wondering what else I had missed.
It is amazing how often this happens in our everyday lives and in our spiritual lives as well. I am constantly rereading Scriptures to discover things which were hidden in plain sight. I have discovered so much in the past couple years in stories that I would have swore I knew inside and out. This realization has compelled me to search even more to find out what else I missed.
But this can happen with people too. So often we get used to seeing someone and it is easy to miss signs of an unspoken need. Whether it is prayer, encouragement or some other kind of help. How often we pass people by because 1. we don’t notice or 2. we are too wrapped up in our own problems.
In all of this, the key here is this: we must slow down and see what God has put in front of us, and allow Jesus to touch us so that we can see everything clearly. He will show us who needs a touch or a word. He will direct us to the hurting and confused. He will give us words or silence to the distraught and broken. We simply just need to humble ourselves before Him and let Him work in us.
Following Him,
Pastor Jeff