May 20 Esight, 2007

Therefore, Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” — John 5:19Even for Jesus, His doing was dependent on His seeing. Here Jesus gives us an insightful glance into a universal law of human behavior. No matter who we are, we only do as we see. Especially in matters of spirituality, a person will reflect in their life only the type of person he or she perceives their God to be. We truly can do nothing of ourselves unless it something we see God doing.

Why? It’s quite simple. How we see determines how we think. How we think determines how we feel. And how we think and feel together determine how we ultimately behave. This adds special importance to the picture one possesses of the character of God. To see God differently and correctly will set in motion a most incredible chain of events in our lives. A change in how one pictures God will produce a change in their thinking, feeling, and behavior, toward God.

Have you been trying, dear friend, to fix areas of your behavior without first giving attention to the picture of God you hold in your heart? Don’t give up hope. Try putting first things first. Do you long to live differently? Are you tired of feeling imprisoned to the same self-destructive behaviors? Jesus stated, “…you will know the truth [about God], and the truth will make you free.” (John 8:32) This week try focusing your attention and emphasis, not on fixing you behavior, but on seeing the truth concerning God and His unfathomable love for you. May it set in motion a world of change.

May 13 Esight, 2007

“As I passed by again, I saw that the time had come for you to fall in love. I promised to love you. Yes, I made a marriage covenant with you, and you became mine.” This is what the Sovereign Lord says.—Ezekiel 16:8, TEV

Even if He gets nothing in return, nothing back from His love, my dear friend, He has promised to love you! Period. God is not a man that He should lie. He never breaks a promise.

“Whether men receive or reject Him, He works earnestly for them. He grants them life and light, striving by His Spirit to win them from Satan’s service.” (Ellen G. White; Review and Herald, March 12, 1901 par. 5) 

In Luke 17:12-19, Luke tells us of ten lepers.  All where healed, but only one returned to say, “thank you.”  What happens next is remarkable.  What about those lepers who never came back to thank Him?  The blessing, then healing, is theirs to keep.  Jesus did not heal them in order to receive anything back.  Jesus simply healed them, because He loved them.  Is this truly what God is like?  Jesus stated that he who had seen Him had seen the Father.

Ponder this thought throughout your week.  Is your picture of God one who awakens in you love for Him, even if there is nothing in it for you? Of course, God has lovingly ordained that there are many blessings we receive from loving Him. But is God’s love strong enough to awaken love within us, even if there’s nothing in it for ourselves? By love is love awakened. And to love like this, with no interest in what’s in it for us, is the very fulfillment of the law Jesus came to write on our hearts.  This is the image of Himself that he wants to restore in you. But it can only take place if, right now, you will choose to believe that He loves you unreservedly, unconditionally, disinterestedly, unselfishly, and benevolently.  “Whether we serve Him or not…”

This is the love that changes lives. This week, may it change yours too. 

“The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan’s deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world’s dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, ‘with healing in His wings.’” Mal. 4:2.  (Ellen G. White, Desire of Ages pg. 22)