10 January -- The Opened Sight

Additional Scripture: Acts 26, Luke 15:11-32

Late again. Satan is fighting back hard at this process. Ticks me off, really. Just when I get a good head of steam, he unhooks the coal car ... and I'm usually going up hill. That's why I'm writing this in a public forum. The old me would have stopped tonight. Boy, did I feel like stopping tonight.

I love the process though. The scripture for today, "... now I send thee, to open their eyes," is so what I'm experiencing in the process. The literal opening of my eyes. But read further, read the whole of the 26th chapter of Acts, and you will begin to see what Chambers is talking about in today's devotion.

The charge of Christian life it to open eyes -- to preach repentance. Repentance is conversion. But conversion isn't enough. Well, frankly, some people are never even really converted. They spend their days going through the motions for their public self and lead an empty, pathetic life in secret, known only to themselves. Others move effortlessly from conversion to conversion ... from new knowledge to new knowledge without ever really applying the knowledge to their personal experience. Because they miss the step of "application" they miss gaining wisdom. The beauty of a blessing from God is lost on them because they don't take the effort to reflect on and live up to that blessing.

What the Lord wants is a sanctified people, those who have applied the knowledge through faith in the Lord. Faith is an action not a feeling. Faithful people are accustomed to recognizing and receiving and then applying the blessing of the Lord. Faithful people create things, experiences, testimonies by their deeds. Their deeds are what makes grace real because the deeds let a waiting Lord know you are ready for more -- or that you have done all you can -- either way, He makes up the difference. I just imagined the image of the father of the Prodigal Son, in the field, looking and waiting for his son's return. And when the son returned, the father ran to meet him.

It can be the same with Christ. Will we be obedient to the heavenly blessings we receive and take action, or will we stay with the swine? It's time to move beyond conversion and apply the knowledge and blessings of the Lord to our life and others! Open your eyes and see!