Late afternoon last Thursday, Keith and I caught sight of our dog Lark, limping home, carrying his left, hind paw. He loves running with Mac since we let him off leash in May, but freedom can be costly. The sight of Lark’s injury and pain landed him in surgery at the Emergency Vet Clinic on Friday and with activity curtailed—back on leash—until stitch removal on the 15th.
Scripture addresses sight in both physical and spiritual terms, as in healing sight, literally and figuratively. Though Lark might need to watch for sharp objects, he doesn’t need sight healing; so far, neither do I. But I do need to be mindful of spiritual sight, walking by faith and being aware that I’m living in God’s sight.
For more about Lark, our special Friday Happy Hour, and a delicious recipe, see my Substack post here.
By Faith, not by Sight
For we live by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 NIV
Sometimes I’m called to sight read music during church services. A spur of the moment choice or a piece I didn’t get a chance to rehearse with the worship team. I’m not very good at sight reading, so I pray, trusting the Holy Spirit for guidance.
Physical sight is a great blessing, which I hope to maintain for the rest of my life. But much of life is based not on the physical realities we can see but on what we cannot experience through our five senses, such as eternal realities. This lack of sensory certainty tests us. Those who live by faith don’t let fear of the frightening things we can see sway them from faith in God even though we can’t see Him. His security and promises, Word and Spirit, our prayers and purpose. All of us are “sight reading” through life, so the apostle Paul encourages believers to press forward. To remain faithful and courageous while facing uncertainty—or playing wrong notes.
Recovery of Sight for the Blind
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, Luke 4:18 NIV
In Luke 4:18, Jesus, quoting from Isaiah, declares His identity as the Messiah and His mission: He came to free us from both physical and spiritual darkness. The Holy Spirit is upon Him; He is the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King. He proclaims the Gospel, the Good News, to the poor, prisoners, the oppressed, those who realize their need for God.
In this verse, I catch sight of my former self, the atheist brought low by sin and failure who then humbled herself to God. In humility, I gained freedom from spiritual darkness and peace and guidance for the seemingly crushing burden of raising children by myself while working fulltime and managing a household. “I was blind and now I see”—John 9:25 and part of the lyrics in John Newton’s song Amazing Grace. Spiritually, as my eyes opened to the truth, I recovered my sight.
Living in God’s Sight
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:13 NIV
Nothing is hidden from God’s sight; He sees and knows everything about our thoughts, words, and deeds, which are the basis of His judgment both at death and when Christ comes again. Accountability. While we cry for justice, we might also find judgment terrifying, because we all fail and fall short. I fall short of the glory of God almost every moment of every day. But God abounds in grace and mercy and forgives those who confess and repent. These truths are so comforting, so encouraging. Jesus, God, truly understands our struggles because He, though sinless, experienced the same tests we face.
Watching Lark sleep peacefully, I am ever so grateful for living in God’s sight and being able to focus on someone other than myself. God has a purpose for me—always. His omnipotence and omnipresence, visible and invisible, are constant reminders of present purpose and future promises. His omniscience encourages us to press on in the work He has called us to do, especially as we draw closer to what we know: salvation by grace through faith.
Linkup with Five Minute Friday
On Fridays I send Friday Happy Hours: a recipe from our kitchen and a story about marriage in the third season of life. It is free, it arrives at the end of the week, and it gives a lighter touch to the experiences in this season. Come sit down with us – here.
Wisdom Builds Her House
In 2010 I left a 34-year career in education to build a mountain home with my husband. The literal house went up. Building the metaphorical one took longer. Four mysteries got in the way: my husband’s daughter, who I never met; who I was once I was neither teaching nor raising children; what really happened in 1957 when a man came to rob our house and hurt my mother; and how those things were connected. A memoir from Brandylane Publishers, in paperback, e-book, and audiobook. Find it here.
Visiting from Fmf13. You covered a lot of sight in this post.