Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.
Psalm 119:18
We need not so much that God should give us more benefits, as the ability to see what He has given. ~Spurgeon~
TAKING IT IN
The Neverending Story, written by the German author Michael Ende, is about a young boy and a book. The story begins with the central character, Bastian, taking refuge from the world in a store which features a collection of ancient books.
The kindly but crusty owner of the bookstore, Mr. Coreander, tries to show Bastian the way out, but one of the books catches the boy’s attention and he reaches for it. Mr. Coreander snatches it away, and tells Bastian that this is not a book for him. Naturally the boy is fascinated, and he asks why. Mr. Coreander replies in a menacing tone,
“The books you read are safe. Clearly, this book is not safe”.
When the owner’s back is turned Bastian scribbles a note promising to return, grabs the book and flees the store. He finds a quiet place in the attic of his school and begins to read, quickly realizing that he is not just reading but becoming an inextricable part of the book, and that the fate of its characters has something to do with him. The world of the book and the world of the reader continue to intertwine until Bastian is forced to make a difficult and critical decision which will affect everything. He discovers that he has entered into a never ending story where the characters in the book in turn have become part of his life, and now his former life is forever changed.
Our Bibles are not “safe books” and the Scriptures do demand that we become a part of the story and in doing so our lives our forever changed. Oh that we would be like Bastian as we come to God’s Word eager to see the wondrous things God has for us.
MAKING IT MEANINGFUL
The word wonder is used in Scripture to refer to miracles. The miracles that Moses performed in Egypt were called wonders (Exodus 4:21; 11:10). The miracles performed by Christ and His apostles were called wonders (Acts 2:22; 15:12). Now when God opens your eyes and you really behold what is in His Word, you find that the Scriptures themselves are miraculous.
You recognize that this is not an “ordinary” book. It is God breathed, alive and active by the supernatural power of God. Although the Bible consists of 66 books written over a period of about 1500 years by over 40 authors in different places and different circumstances, there is an amazing harmony and unity in its message. It tells us of things in our universe long before science ever discovered them. It is historically accurate. It is prophetically accurate. It clearly describes the world we live in, why it is the way it is, and what will become of it. It tells us what man is, how he thinks, how he feels, what he will say, and what he will do. As we study it, it broadens our intellect, fortifies our hearts, and brings us exquisite pleasure. The more you see in the Bible, the more astounded you will be at the relevance, the truth, and the depth of its message. And, of course, it greatest wonder is the Savior it presents, our Lord Jesus Christ Whose name is called Wonderful (Isaiah 9:6).
The Bible is a collection of miracles you can embrace in your hand at any time of the day, any day of the week. You need look no further than its pages to discover wonder upon wonder.
WORKING IT INTO MY HEART
If this is not your experience with the Bible, it could be because your eyes are closed.
We want to glean from the Psalmist’s prayer today as he recognizes his natural propensity for blindness. He asks God to open his eyes that he might not miss out on any of the wonderful things that are set before him in the Word of God.
We need the continued help of the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to understanding, to cause us to see our sins and errors, and to strengthen our inward woman so we may see what God is teaching us in His word. The Word is not “safe” as it challenges us to become the women God desires us to be and takes us on an exciting journey of faith to believe Him for all that He promises! As we seek to see all that God has for us, He will take us into deeper relationship with Him and miraculous things will happen in our lives.Ponder the following thought.
The great end of the Word of God in the Psalmist’s time, as now, was practical; but there is a secondary use here referred to, which is worthy of consideration, – its power of meeting man’s faculty of wonder. God knows our frame, for he made it, and he must have adapted the Bible to all its parts. If we can show this, it may be another token that the book comes from Him who made man. It is true that man yearns to behold astonishing and wonderful things. This can be seen from early childhood and it continues throughout life. We crave the spectacular. And the Bible is designed by our Maker to satisfy that craving.-John Ker The Psalms in History and Biography
End your time today praying Ephesians 1:17-18 and may we all discover wondrous things from His Word as we seek to be revived!