I Can See

Now keep this in mind: it was you, not your children, who saw and experienced firsthand all the lessons the Eternal your God taught you. You saw how He demonstrated His majesty and His overwhelming power. You saw the signs He performed in Egypt and everything He sent against Pharaoh the king and everyone in the country. You saw what He did to the Egyptian army, to its horses and its chariots, right when they were chasing you: He drowned them in the Red Sea! The Eternal destroyed them all, and the Egyptian army still hasn’t recovered. You saw how He took care of you in the wilderness and brought you safely to this place. (Deuteronomy 11:2-5 The Voice)

Life is not easy; we were never promised it would be. We are told that it is through the 'not easy' times that we will grow. Our faith will mature, and we will find our pathway to a better life. I know that when I was at my lowest, and I turned to God, I saw Him move. He touched my life and opened my eyes. 

I am so glad I wrote in my journal of all the times I cried out to Him and He responded. I can page though my notes and see how He works. When I forget how good He is to me every day, I simply go to my own record of His goodness and I see where He has been moving. 

I can see how He demonstrates His majesty and power in my life. I can see the signs He performs to keep me going physically, emotionally and spiritually. Looking back over my notes I can see His hand of protection and guidance steering around trouble and pain. Sometimes I see His hand directing me through these difficulties so that I can grow closer to Him.

I have seen in the past how He took care of me in my wilderness. I can see His provision to bring me safely to today, and then tomorrow. I am an eyewitness to His faithfulness, His love and mercy. Because I can see, I can also testify all that I can see.

Deuteronomy 11:1-15

Eyewitness

Eyewitnesses.


Some local news channels market themselves as Eyewitness News.

Prosecutors and defense lawyers like eyewitnesses to testify during court trials. Without eyewitness testimony and other hard facts, a jury can have a difficult time reaching a verdict in a trial. Eyewitness testimony was important during the Roman Empire and important during the time of Moses, some 3500 years ago.

Today’s story is John 20:24-31. You probably remember this story as that of Doubting Thomas. There is more, however, to the story than the doubts of one of Jesus disciples.

As a disciple, Thomas was an eyewitness to many of Jesus miracles. Because of what he saw during Jesus’ life, Thomas could say that the man Jesus was the Son of God.

 

Jesus made many promises to his disciples about the resurrection and heaven. He cryptically told them he would prepare a place for them at his father’s house (John 14:2). He also told them that after his death he would return (John 16:16).

This was probably difficult for all the disciples to believe, but it is clear from today’s reading that Thomas did not believe it. After all, most Jews thought Jesus would be another King David who would once again make the Kingdom of Israel a great nation on Earth. How wrong they were!

 

Thomas was also an eyewitness to the resurrected Jesus! He knew it was Jesus because of the holes in his hands and feet as well as Jesus' pierced abdomen.

Jesus was resurrected. Not only was Jesus the Son of God, but he also was God! If Jesus could be resurrected after his death, then surely his followers could also be.

There are no living eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection today. We only have the accounts of the disciples compiled in the Bible.

Before his death, the disciples did not understand who Jesus really was. Left to our own devices, we would not understand either.

Fortunately, we have the Holy Spirit that enables us to believe, even if all the eyewitnesses died 2000 years ago! Our faith is a gift from God!

 

 

2 Peter 1:12-21 - Eyewitness to Truth

I have served on several juries. Lawyers carefully present their cases, but eyewitnesses have a decisive effect on the thinking of jurors. Eyewitnesses bring truth into the proceedings.

Peter talks of the inspiration and authority of scripture and its importance as the true Word of God. The apostles didn't invent stories, they witnessed the events in Jesus' life.

Peter is pointing out how important it is to keep our minds focused on Truth. We must be careful not to be distracted, and ultimately led astray by false teachers who are wrongly presenting God's Word.

Peter is calling us to be aware of the spiritual darkness around us and the Light found in scripture. We are to "pay attention" (NIV), "keep focusing" (MSG), "take heed" (KJV), and "pay close attention" (NLT). (v 19)

Peter reminds us that though we may already know and firmly believe in scripture we need to go back to the basic truths of our faith from time to time. We must remain diligent in God’s Word so that “[we] will always be able to remember these things.” (15)

This passage gives me several encouragements today. I am reminded to keep focused on God's awesome redeeming love in Jesus. I am prompted to read God's Word every day where reminders of His Truth can be found.

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Read today's text, 2 Peter 1:12-21 on Biblegateway.