Olney Adventist Church

Seeing Vs Vision by Olney Adventist Church

He was born blind and had spent his whole life in darkness, but when he met Jesus he saw what know one else around him could see. Those who think they can see, are shown to be blind, and the one born blind is the only one that sees. And now, 2000 years later, things have not changed. We get so caught up in the questions and unknowns, that we forget the one we all can know — Jesus.

The sinful woman’s display of affection and gratitude towards Jesus offended the Pharisee host and some of Jesus’ disciples. They saw Him tainted by accepting her heartfelt tears and expensive perfume. They looked through eyes of judgment but Jesus taught them about the eyes of forgiveness and the path to love.

We have a choice regarding how we see things. In fact, what we see in our lives has less to do with the external realities than our internal frame of reference. Our vision is determined from within. And Jesus invites us to see correctly.

More is happening every day in our lives than we see or know. Great men and women of God have had the ability to see beyond their current circumstances and recognize unseen spiritual realities more powerful than physical realities in front of them. Seeing beyond is a discipleship skill God develops in all His followers. Are you walking by faith or are you still living by your human eyesight?

Saul was a sincere follower of God who devoted much of his time to doing the work of the church. He was zealous for God and had no idea he was working directly against him! His life was heading in the wrong direction and he was blind to all the damage he was causing until he met Jesus and the scales fell from his eyes.

With the rise of social media, the peer pressure for a hot bod has probably never been stronger. But what about a F.R.O.G. bod? Does God have something to say about true physical health, beauty, and self care? Let us learn how to have true physical well-being and to love the bodies we were given, even if we do look a little like frogs!

We don’t have to read many Bible stories or Christian biographies to recognize that the F.R.O.G spiritual journey will likely involve some really unexpected twists and turns. How do we stay the course and keep on the “narrow path,” when this world has a million exit ramps?

Parenting in the 2010’s is challenging — imagine what it’s going to be like in the 2020’s! God have mercy on all of us parents. In rapidly changing world where evil is easily and instantly accessible to our children, we need divine guidance to raise our children!

Whether you’re in a romantic relationship, or still looking for Mr/Mrs Right, or married with many years under your belt, there are always opportunities to become a better friend, partner, and lover. However, in this sinful world, a healthy intimate relationship takes intentionality, wisdom, and just good old fashioned hard work. God has designed us for intimacy, so He can also tell us the principles needed for a healthy relationship.

Our origin story is fundamental to who we become. But it doesn’t have to be the final story. In fact, if we’re not with God, our origin story is way too small. Understanding our origins is helpful, but especially so when we see it through God’s eyes.

The devil has one primary strategy with each human soul — isolate and destroy, divide and conquer. God created us for connection and relationship and the devil knows he can destroy us most easily when we’re isolated, marginalized, and disconnected. In this busy, independent culture, we have to be intentional about forming and nurturing healthy friendships. It is crucial to our overall well-being and our spiritual health.

Like Judas, many of us try to make God work for us. We have plans and nothing is gonna stop us, not even Jesus. Until the moment we realize we have been selling our soul along the way. Nothing is worth our soul — today is the day to get our money back.

When we are in right relationship with our money, it can make an eternal difference. Jesus said, “Give and it will be given back to you.” Be inspired to Fully Rely on God and watch what he’ll do with our five loaves and two fishes!

How are we at managing our money? Or is our money managing us? Do we have assets? Or do our assets have us? Do we live to make money or make money to live? Our relationship to money is very intimate and personal. We consider how we can have a healthy relationship with money, one that will last a lifetime.

Peter and Cornelius, two very different men. One a Jew, one a gentile; one an apostle, one a military general; one clean, the other unclean; but both received the Holy Spirit.

In the parable of the unmerciful servant we are outraged by a man who is forgiven millions of dollars but immediately demands $5 from someone who owes him. Who would possibly act this way?

David and Bathsheba, we know the story all too well. At least the sin part . . . but do we know the salvation part and the son that died for him?

In our sinful condition we are lost, blind, and in need of salvation. Hosanna to the Son of David, who brings to us everything we need.

Ruth and Naomi suffered a great tragedy and lived during difficult days. Though her heart had been broken and God appeared to have left her with nothing she kept on the journey, leaving behind earthly comforts in hopes of something greater. Meet the great-grandmother of David, who followed her heart, even when it was broken.

Jesus tells the parable of a man who found treasure in a field, sold all he had, and bought the field so he could have the treasure. And he tells of another one who sold everything to buy the pearl he had had been searching for all his life. The lesson of this parable is obvious . . . Or is it?

Perhaps nothing challenges our sense of fairness more than Jesus’ parable of the workers who were all paid the same, no matter whether they worked all day or only one hour. What is Jesus trying to teach us? Going deep with this parable we may be surprised to see it is not a parable about wages after all.

Are we blaming others when the problem is us? We all have blind spots. But we must fix the plank in our own eye before trying to remove the speck in our brother’s. In constantly worrying about the next problem, it is easy to lose sight of the grace that is being poured into our lives every day. We must trust the one who judges justly. Sometimes the biggest troubles are the biggest instances of grace. God can bring good out of anything.

For Joseph, it was always about God. When we are all about us, it is much misery and pain. Joseph lived his life before an audience of one. God helped him be fruitful and multiply in the very land of his suffering. Joseph saw himself as sent not sold. Later he did not want revenge but an outpouring of the same grace God had shown him on his brothers. Wherever we are, God will use us within our spheres of influence to make an impact on others for His glory.

Everything in life is a gift from God, and undeserved. Don’t give up praying because you haven’t seen the answer yet. Trials make us better people, help us recognize others’ pain. Abraham willingly parted with the gift that brought him the greatest joy. Whatever it is, we have the choice to let it go and put it on the altar like Abraham did. Jesus became our provision when he died on the cross. He fulfilled the promise made to Abraham.

When we are starving, we can think of nothing else. Like Esau, we all have our bowl of stew — we’re willing to trade large value for temporary pleasure. Sin works our desires and we get addicted. But those with addiction are not without hope. God can help us get rid of the addiction — we don’t need the strength but we need to make the choice. And we can help our loved ones who suffer from addictions make the choice by praying for them.

Hebrews 7: 1 – 5 describes the greatness of Melchizedek, priest of the God most high. Melchizedek previewed the role of Christ in our lives. Jesus is our mediator, our way to salvation.

When trouble comes, we must ask “God, how can this make me better or stronger?” Because God comes to us disguised as our life. Through challenges, He may be preparing us to take on a bigger blessing. Running away does not solve anything. We cannot outrun our mistakes and choices, they will catch up to us. God gives us so many exit ramps when we are on the wrong path, but we don’t take them. How can we turn to Him?

God lets us do things our way. But when we seek God’s counsel, He gives what is best for us. We may have to change our desires and perspectives to match God’s and meet Him in the middle. Rebekah did not hesitate to leave her family and go with Eliezer. There will come a time in our lives when we have to go — in faith — and leave behind what we love. But God has greater blessings in store.

Our spiritual journey begins with leaving something behind — with taking a step away from where we are now and leaving our comfort zones. We need to be reborn in spirit. When we’re on the spiritual journey, we may feel like our lives are falling apart. However, if we let go and allow God to be the master surgeon, there will be healing. The journey isn’t easy but when God uses our lives, the results are eternal.