Fifty-eight percent of the foods on the shelves of our grocery stores are “fortified.” Researchers claim that they make a significant contribution to the quality and value of the food we eat. Additionally, many of our foods in cans, in boxes, in the meat and dairy sections or in the fruit and vegetable sections of the store where we shop have been “genetically modified” in one way or another. Biologists claim that it makes the products last longer, tastier and more nutritious.

“Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you!” Guide your eyes and know where you are going warns Solomon. We are to fortify the way we view life with God’s wisdom, power and strength and then be careful where we place our feet. In other words, stay focused using God’s wisdom.

The fool, those who choose not to acknowledge the presence or power of God, is easily distracted. Any image that “springs-up” or appears with no warning is a call to lure the “fool” into a trap. Jesus said that the “eye is the lamp of the body” and will project on the screen of our minds an image that quickly and without warning leads the “fool” astray. The eyes, once seduced, need more and more excitement until, rather than being lured, actually search with determination images that are corrupt, vile and destructive.

“Looking straight ahead” and “fixing His gaze” is what Jesus did on the last phase of His life’s journey. He “resolutely” set out for Jerusalem. Fortified by God.

Prayer:  God, grant us the willingness to plant Your wisdom so deeply in our hearts that we will stay focused. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today:  Proverbs 4:25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.

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Sir Isaac Newton is generally recognized as the most original and influential theorists in history. His impact on physics and mathematics was profound and he is the one who discovered gravity.

One day a visitor to his study remarked, “Sir Isaac, I don’t understand: you seem to be believe the Bible like a little child. I have tried, but I can’t. Many of the statements mean nothing to me. I can’t believe and I can’t understand why.”

Sir Isaac replied, “Sometimes I come to my study and in my absentmindedness I attempt to light my candle when the extinguisher is over it. I fumble about trying to light it but cannot. But when I remove the extinguisher, then I am able to light the candle.”

“I am afraid the extinguisher in your case is your love for sin. It is deliberate unbelief that is in you. Turn to God in repentance, be prepared to let the Spirit of God reveal His truth to you, and it will be His joy to show the glory of the grace of God shining in the face of Jesus Christ.”

It is unbelief that keeps the truth of God’s Word from entering our minds, hearts and lives. Reading and doubting are the opposite of reading and accepting. If we expect God to speak to us from His Word, we must first take Him at His Word by accepting the truth that is in His Word: “For by grace are you saved through faith.”

“The Lord,” said the Psalmist, “gives sight to the blind.” He will open our eyes if we open our hearts.

Prayer: Lord, open our hearts to the grace You offer us through Christ and our eyes to see the truth in Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 146:8a the Lord gives sight to the blind,

There are many things in the Bible that we do not understand. There are other things in the Bible that we think we understand. There are many things in the Bible that we cannot understand. But there are many things in the Bible that we do understand but simply chose to do nothing about.
So, what’s the problem?

If we want to know a person, we must spend time with that one. And more than anything else the Bible is about a Person. So if we want to know that Person, we must spend time in the Bible. Now, there are two important facts here. The Bible was given to us by men who God inspired to write it.

Because it is God’s inspired Word, we need His Spirit to illuminate it for us. But we cannot expect Him to illuminate it for us unless we are willing to allow His Spirit to open our eyes to see Him as He is in His Word.

A child was born blind and spent years unable to see the world around him. Researchers finally found a way to restore his sight. Not knowing what the outcome would be the surgeons were cautious not to give him too much hope. The day finally arrived when they were to remove his bandages. They led him to a window that overlooked a flower garden. When the bandages were removed, he stood in amazement and said, “Mom, why didn’t you tell me how beautiful the flowers are?”

“I tried,” she said, “but you have to see them for yourself.” So it is with God. We have to see Him for ourselves.

Prayer: Help us, Father, to see You as You are - in all of Your loveliness - as we find You in Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

Returning to earth after several orbital circles in outer space, a Russian cosmonaut proudly boasted, “I looked everywhere, but I didn’t see God.” That statement made me wonder what evidence would have been acceptable to him to prove that there is a God. Paul once wrote, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen.”

The eye, our “window to the world,” seems to be a very special part of God’s creation. But before the eye was formed, in His unfathomable wisdom a process was set in motion: “Let there be light!” He ordered. For us to see anything light must be reflected off of an object to form a “picture” or the eye is useless.

Before God created our eyes He prepared a special place for them: He formed the bones of the skull to give them a safe place to do their work. He then fashioned our eyelids to keep out dirt and dust and made eyebrows to keep glaring light from damaging them. Finally He developed a lubricating process to keep our eyes moist and clean by causing tears to flow.

Finally, there is the cornea. It allows rays of light to pass through the iris and form a scene in our brain. And here the process becomes complete: Our brain takes what we see and enables us to make sense of God’s creation, love and salvation through His word.

“Seeing” God, however, takes more than the eye. “If you search for Me with all your heart, you’ll find Me.”

Prayer:  Open our hearts, Father, as well as our eyes to discover Your beauty and majesty, love and salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today:  Psalm 94:9b Does he who formed the eye not see?