Tuesday, July 27, 2010, 12:37 p.m. – I was praying for someone I love when the term “myopic” came to mind:
Nearsighted – “unable to see clearly objects that are far away; shortsighted – thoughtless, unthinking, ill-considered, imprudent, ill-advised, and/or unwise” (Encarta). The opposite of “nearsighted” is “foresight” – “forethought; prudence; precaution, insight, intuition; and/or the ability to envision possible future problems or obstacles” (Encarta).
This definitely describes what I was feeling in my heart concerning this person and why I was praying for this one that I love so dearly.
When I woke up this morning and I had my quiet time with the Lord, I read I Peter 4:
My Understanding: Well, the word “Myopic” definitely fits with this passage of scripture, for when we are shortsighted and nearsighted, we are not able to:
· Arm ourselves spiritually for spiritual warfare
· Live for the will of God
· Be clear-minded and self-controlled, and
· Love each other deeply
When we are “Myopic” (shortsighted; nearsighted), some of these characteristics will be revealed in our lives:
· Live for evil human desires
· Live in debauchery (unrestrained self-indulgent immoral behavior – Encarta)
· Live in lust, drunkenness, detestable idolatry, etc.
· Think it strange that others do not participate in such with us, and
· Heap abuse on those who choose to live godly and holy lives (set apart for God)
This scripture passage says that we have spent enough time living like that. I know that there were periods of time in my own life where this was a description of my life, too. I was “Myopic.” I didn’t see clearly. And, I was not able to arm myself for battle. Thank the Lord Jesus for his grace. He never left me and he brought me back into full submission to Him, not in absolute perfection, but with a heart that hungers after God and that desires to do His will. I am so thankful for God’s grace and that he loved me enough to pull me up out of the mud and to use me once again for His glory.
When we choose to leave that other life behind us and to never go back there again, we will face abuse, persecution, mocking, disapproval, pressure to go back or to accept less, rejection because we don’t participate in the same things as others, insults, and suffering for the sake of Christ and the sake of His Name. Yet, we are not to be surprised when these things happen to us, because they happened to Jesus and they happened to the Saints of God as recorded in scripture, and they have happened to many Christians since that time. So, this is nothing strange that this is happening. We should rejoice that we participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that we may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
V. 7 says, “The end of all things is near.” Now, I know this was written about 2,000 years ago or more, so the word “near” is definitely relative, yet it is a true statement because each and every day of our lives it is nearer than it was before, and we never know when it will be the end of our lives, so we should live every day as though it may be our last.
In light of eternity, and in respect to our understanding of scripture with regard to the last days, the judgment of God and the return of Christ, and in light of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ which he has lavished upon His children, we should live our lives for Jesus and not for ourselves. This scripture passage says that “It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God.”
Notice that the book of Revelation begins with the letters to the seven churches in which God praised them for the good things they were doing and he chastised them for the bad things they were doing, and in which he warned of judgment and he called for repentance, so obviously the church is not exonerated from some kind of judgment, though not the ultimate judgment of eternity in hell. The Bible says that the Spirit of God within us envies intensely. This was a warning to believers (the Spirit is within us) to not love the world or to be friends with the world, because friendship with the world is hatred toward God. Oh, how I wish we could all see this, but so many of us are “Myopic.”
Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer / Thomas O. Chisholm / W. J. Kirkpatrick
Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.
O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
Nearsighted – “unable to see clearly objects that are far away; shortsighted – thoughtless, unthinking, ill-considered, imprudent, ill-advised, and/or unwise” (Encarta). The opposite of “nearsighted” is “foresight” – “forethought; prudence; precaution, insight, intuition; and/or the ability to envision possible future problems or obstacles” (Encarta).
This definitely describes what I was feeling in my heart concerning this person and why I was praying for this one that I love so dearly.
When I woke up this morning and I had my quiet time with the Lord, I read I Peter 4:
My Understanding: Well, the word “Myopic” definitely fits with this passage of scripture, for when we are shortsighted and nearsighted, we are not able to:
· Arm ourselves spiritually for spiritual warfare
· Live for the will of God
· Be clear-minded and self-controlled, and
· Love each other deeply
When we are “Myopic” (shortsighted; nearsighted), some of these characteristics will be revealed in our lives:
· Live for evil human desires
· Live in debauchery (unrestrained self-indulgent immoral behavior – Encarta)
· Live in lust, drunkenness, detestable idolatry, etc.
· Think it strange that others do not participate in such with us, and
· Heap abuse on those who choose to live godly and holy lives (set apart for God)
This scripture passage says that we have spent enough time living like that. I know that there were periods of time in my own life where this was a description of my life, too. I was “Myopic.” I didn’t see clearly. And, I was not able to arm myself for battle. Thank the Lord Jesus for his grace. He never left me and he brought me back into full submission to Him, not in absolute perfection, but with a heart that hungers after God and that desires to do His will. I am so thankful for God’s grace and that he loved me enough to pull me up out of the mud and to use me once again for His glory.
When we choose to leave that other life behind us and to never go back there again, we will face abuse, persecution, mocking, disapproval, pressure to go back or to accept less, rejection because we don’t participate in the same things as others, insults, and suffering for the sake of Christ and the sake of His Name. Yet, we are not to be surprised when these things happen to us, because they happened to Jesus and they happened to the Saints of God as recorded in scripture, and they have happened to many Christians since that time. So, this is nothing strange that this is happening. We should rejoice that we participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that we may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
V. 7 says, “The end of all things is near.” Now, I know this was written about 2,000 years ago or more, so the word “near” is definitely relative, yet it is a true statement because each and every day of our lives it is nearer than it was before, and we never know when it will be the end of our lives, so we should live every day as though it may be our last.
In light of eternity, and in respect to our understanding of scripture with regard to the last days, the judgment of God and the return of Christ, and in light of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ which he has lavished upon His children, we should live our lives for Jesus and not for ourselves. This scripture passage says that “It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God.”
Notice that the book of Revelation begins with the letters to the seven churches in which God praised them for the good things they were doing and he chastised them for the bad things they were doing, and in which he warned of judgment and he called for repentance, so obviously the church is not exonerated from some kind of judgment, though not the ultimate judgment of eternity in hell. The Bible says that the Spirit of God within us envies intensely. This was a warning to believers (the Spirit is within us) to not love the world or to be friends with the world, because friendship with the world is hatred toward God. Oh, how I wish we could all see this, but so many of us are “Myopic.”
Oh, to Be Like Thee, Blessed Redeemer / Thomas O. Chisholm / W. J. Kirkpatrick
Oh, to be like Thee! blessèd Redeemer,
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Oh, to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wandering sinner to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer others to save.
O to be like Thee! while I am pleading,
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love;
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit me for life and Heaven above.
Oh, to be like Thee! Oh, to be like Thee,
Blessèd Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.