What Our Eyes See They Believe

Texts:
- Psalms 25-28
- Matthew 14-15
- Daniel 4-6

Last night, we spent a long time in our Exodus teaching meeting talking about the topic of deliverance. Man, it was a heavy discussion, that went down many aimless paths, asked many aimless questions and ended up on aim because of Your guidance of that whole process Lord. I don't know how much sooner we could have gotten there if we (I) would have turned my eyes to You and Your word sooner.

One of my thoughts last night is that we believe what we see, only. That is why faith in God is so hard, it must be made seen. I see that as the job of pastors, theologians, and others in ministry, to make the vision of hope and deliverance and mission in Christ so tangible that it is almost seen. Hope that we can see, hope that we then believe.

That's why deliverance is so hard as well. When we, Lord, are captive to sin, situation, or relationship we so often keep our eyes on that situation. Sometimes we do this with an arrogant pride in our own ability to fix the situation or to stop the sin. Sometimes continue to look at our captivity out of frustrated desperation, longing to be set free but only knowing the confines of our chains. Looking at them and longing that we be delivered. There are so many reasons to stay focused on our captivity. But if we do that's all we see, and that's what we begin to believe.

So Psalm 25, verse 15 is really interesting in this discussion.

"My eyes are ever on the LORD,for only he will release my feet from the snare."

Our eyes must somehow be turned up to the hope that is in You. Only You can actually bring deliverance. You know, we covered this point already, that humans cannot get at deliverance on their own. But much of the time we walk around with heads down searching the earth for our escape. I want want instead to live the real life of this earth with hope and assurance that You are always working on my behalf, and on the behalf of others.

Because You are.