Faith as a way of seeing

 

23 March 2022

By Rev Kenneth Mtata 

Today’s readings

• Psalm 32; 

• Joshua 4:1-13; 

• 2 Corinthians 4:16-5:5

Verse of the day

“…because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

There are two ways of seeing things. One way is seeing them as they are in human terms. Another is to see them with divine eyes or the way God would see them. Seeing things the way God sees them does not change how things really are for people. It however changes how situations affect people. One is sight and the other is insight. Insight is the seeing of faith.

When Elisha's servant saw the army that was pursuing them he was totally overwhelmed. Then Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17-20)

When people are going through difficulties, when they are sick, when they have lost loved ones, when they lose a job or their resources, when they are hopeless, their present moment can be so overwhelming that they cannot see beyond their present experience. Paul says that “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure, because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen…”

Christian growth is about seeing, about insight. When insight grows, our foresight (the ability to perceive what is unfolding) also grows.

Anyone who experiences or looks at their present state of pain from a human perspective will feel the full weight of the challenge. But the one who has learnt to look at Jesus will grow inwardly though outwardly  he or she is experiencing pain. For such a person, tribulation becomes fertilizer for internal growth. This is what the great African church father, Tertullian, meant when he said, “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

This doesn't mean that the Christian will not look for ways to alleviate the pain. They will seek ways to address the pan. But their outlook of life make them do this without desperation or hopelessness. 

This ability to see things the way God does is developed by finding satisfaction in doing important things in secret and not seeking to impress. God’s people grow in their insight when they are not overly impressed or not seek to impress with externals. 

The disciples who invests in secret growth, get rewarded in deep insight. That is why the gospel says, “But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6).

Communion with God in the closet transforms our insight so that we see the way God sees. May God give you insight and foresight today through what you  may be going through. 

Prayer

Dear God, many of our people are currently struggling. Some of them are losing their faith as a result. We pray for deeper growth to accompany current challenges. Just as you, our Lord, thrived in your suffering leading to the resurrection; turn our struggles into food for renewal and growth. Amen