by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Romans 12:2
They saw a man before them that they hated, telling them what they didn't want to hear. Stephen saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God!
And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. Acts 3:4-8.The cripple saw two prospects for a coin or two in his cup that day. Peter and John saw a man in need of healing.
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the *law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. John 8:4-7.The scribes and Pharisees saw a way to trap their enemy. The woman saw no mercy. Jesus saw their purpose and her deliverance.
(*That "law" they referred to? And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer AND the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10. Where was the other guilty party--the man? Perhaps that's why Jesus stooped down and wouldn't look at them--He knew which of them it was and it was that which He wrote with His finger in the dirt!)
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked... John 5:6-9.The man with the infirmity saw someone to listen to his story; Jesus saw a soul and body that needed to be loosed from the bonds of sin and sickness.
Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise. And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. Luke 7:12-15.A widowed mother saw a dismal future without her beloved son and means of support. Jesus saw her situation.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. John 20:26-29.
Far too often we allow what we see to dictate the faith (or lack of it) we should be exercising in the One we know. How many times are we going to allow For we walk by faith, not by sight. II Corinthians 5:7, to be defeated by that which the world says: "Seeing is believing"?
No, this is about our trust in God and the faith we should exercise in His promises to us. What makes the difference in what is seen? Faith--what I believe in. As a human, what I believe IS what I look for, and what I see is what I accept. All too easily I can be defeated if I allow my circumstances to dictate my faith.
...He sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant...Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. Luke 7:3-10.Did you notice what the centurion said? He stated the solution. Look at it, see it for yourself: "...Say in a word, and my servant shall be healed." The centurian recognized authority--he knew only one who spoke with the confidence of authority could do what needed to be done for his servant: "For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it."
Did you see it there? Out of Jesus' own mouth came the explanation of why I get what I do (or not!!!): "According to your faith be it unto you". That's exactly what we get: according to our faith, according to what we believe.
...Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21:21,22.
It's not a matter of working up a great deal of faith. Have you seen a mustard seed lately? Why do we need so little faith? Because we have such a mighty, powerful God! A God Who will supply ALL our needs: But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19.
Read that scripture passage there in James 2, verses 20-23 for yourself. Ole' Abraham took his son up to that altar, knowing God had the solution. And because of Abraham's unwavering faith (and obedience, mind you), God honored his faith and provided a substitute sacrifice.
But not us. Not today. Today we've got to see the solution before we believe. And being the "don't make me wait" folks that we are, if we don't see the immediate results that we want, "Well, I knew He wasn't going to do it, anyway." We get mad. "Well, God knew I needed it. Why didn't He just send it?" You don't know of the literally countless times God has sent things, or caused things to happen that you needed. When we don't get what we want, where we want it, how we want it, it gets our attention.
God wants our faith in Him to grow. That happens when we exercise the faith we've been given, when we step out on that measure of faith that we all have.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:2,3.If we apply that measure of faith that has been given to us, it will grow.
"Seeing It Differently" Copyright © 1999 by Patricia Sikes.
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