2 Samuel 11:26 - 12:13a and Psalm 51:1-12

Ephesians 4:1-16

John 6:24-35

We pile up degrees and titles and certifications and experiences and as a result often think quite highly of ourselves. But sometimes all of the accolades and accomplishments blind us. We get praised and rewarded for knowing and doing, and sometimes we are blind to what is present. We get caught up in the confidence that we know how things work and lose the ability to see things in a new or different way. 

Sometimes we need some help seeing what is in front of us. David needed help seeing what was in front of him. He had just used his kingly power to have the husband of his pregnant mistress killed....and did't see anything wrong with it. It took Nathan the prophet shining a light on the situation from a different direction for David to comprehend what he had done. He thought he understood the order of things [the king can do whatever he wants], but he needed to be reminded that his power had limits and he had responsibility to those above and below him. 

Paul is another classic example of someone who needed help seeing what was in front of him. In this particular passage from Ephesians we see him working to help the followers of Jesus in Ephesus understand who Jesus is and how their lives are different as a result. It was all available to them, but those folks needed someone to help them see it. 

And in the passage from John we see Jesus helping people see what is in front of them. The disciples asked, "What must we do to perform the works of God?" and Jesus responded, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him who he has sent." Jesus is showing them that they already have all they need right in front of them, they just need to believe and trust it. 

God,

help me to let go

of the things that,

while I think make me 

wise and 

wonderful and 

valuable, 

in fact blind me 

and hold me down, 

keeping me from You 

and Your Way. 

Amen. 

© laura & matt norvell 2012 www.settingourstones.org - We share this with you and hope you'll share with the world; we simply ask that you let people know where you found these words. May Grace & Peace be with you.