Sunday Writing... 4-26-20... "EYES AND EARS"

Good morning!

In the writing for today entitled "EYE AND EARS," we read about how we use our eyes and ears to see and hear, sometimes better than at other times.  Read on to see how God uses His eyes and ears.

Blessings,
Jan

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Today's Devotional:

"EYES AND EARS"

by
Jan Andersen

We all know that we see with our eyes and hear with our ears.  But what do we use to actually listen and understand what we see and hear?  It takes coordination of our senses with our brain.  Not just knowledge, but also the memories of prior experiences, the feeling of emotions, the interpretation of voice inflection and body language, etc.  

Sometimes our eyes see something but we don’t really comprehend it fully.  We may be outside and see the scene as a whole but don’t notice the little things, like seeing the forest but not taking note of all the different types of trees that make up that vast expanse of wooded land.  Or we may go out looking for seashells on the beach, and may totally miss the dolphins leaping in the waves off shore.  Those are a matter of what we are focusing on or looking for.  Other times we can be looking right at something and still miss its significance.  Perhaps we look past a dusty old book at a garage sale, and later learn that it was a rare volume that someone else snatched up and sold for a huge price.

The same can happen with our ears, partially hearing things but not catching the whole.  Perhaps we hear muffled voices but can’t make out what they are saying.  Or maybe we are walking down the street and don’t pay attention to all the different noises that reach our eardrums, because we tune it out, when deep in thought or when listening to someone talking with us.  There are even times when we may hear what a person is saying but don’t fully comprehend everything they are saying, perhaps because it is beyond our ability to understand, or we’ve never experienced anything like it so we have no empathy for the feelings expressed. 

When Jesus rose from the dead and appeared to two disciples walking to Emmaus, they saw him but did not recognize it was Jesus.  And as he walked with them he revealed many things in the scripture to them, things they had heard before but not fully understood.  It may be hard for us to understand how this could be, but we’ve all experienced seeing and hearing things but not fully comprehending them.  Thankfully we have a loving God who sees and hears us with full understanding… and forgiveness of our shortfalls.  

Luke 24:13, 15-16, 25-26, 30-31 (ESV)  That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus… While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.  But their eyes were kept from recognizing him… And He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” … When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.  And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight… And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed!”

We have the advantage of hindsight - being able to see the whole Old and New Testament, and how they fit together, and that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies and so forth.  May we all be able to have eyes that see and ears that hear so we too can say “The Lord has risen indeed!” with confidence when witnessing to others of His great love.  And may we see and hear others through God's loving and forgiving eyes and ears.

Dear heavenly Father, we thank you for fully knowing and understanding us and still forgiving us, no matter how far we fall short.  Help us to have eyes that see and ears that hear as we grow in the comprehension of your Word and in compassion for others.  Help us to share your Good News with those who have not seen or heard.  In Jesus’ name,  Amen.         

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Song:

Open My Eyes 

by Jesse Manibusan

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you by the Devotional Writers 

and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries.

Blog Writers

 Sandy Billingham, Carol Steficek,   

 Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,  Cathy Friberg, 

Jan Andersen and  Corinne Mustafa

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Kathy Bireley,  Terri Baker

Lynda Kinnard, Beverley Napier, 

 Amie Spruiell, Linda Garrett, and Lisabeth Lipp