“Open my eyes, so that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.” Psalms 119:18 (NRSV)
I admit math has never come naturally to me. Oh, I can do the essential addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, but in high school algebra, I was in trouble when it came to solving formulas and equations. My hang-up was in attempting to understand why these equations existed and their purpose. For example, what does being able to answer x=(−b±√(b²−4ac))∕2a (quadratic formula) do for me. How and when would I ever use it? Why was the formula arranged the way it was? Who says it is right?. When I explained my issue to the teacher--Mr. Hardwick, God bless his soul--he suggested I just accept that the formulas existed and just work the problem. Once I did that, I was able to find the solution.
Sometimes when we read God's word, it can be like that. We may get caught up in the stories and miss the over encompassing message of God's love. It is easy to become bogged down in the "Why of God,” attempting to understand his purpose for acting in a certain way when we need just to accept and have faith. When we study the Bible, in addition to accepting what it says as God's truth, we need to pray for guidance and discernment that God opens our eyes in understanding. We may never understand the formulas, but God can help us solve the problems.
Father, thank you for the truth found in Your Word. Help us to understand what it means to us in this here and now. By the Holy Spirit, lead and guide us in the message of your love. Open our eyes and hearts to the beauty and majesty of your presence. May we find in your Word the answers to the problems we face today. Amen.
Open My Eyes, That I May See
Clara H. Scott (1895)
Open my eyes that I may see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready, my God, Thy will to see;
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit Divine!
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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