Apple of My Eye

 

The "apple" of one's eye is commonly referring to the pupil (Deuteronomy 32:10). We protect our eyes at any cost, making sure that no foreign substance or harm come to them in any way.

We use the term “apple of my eye” when speaking about something very valuable to us. We instruct our children, the “apple of our eye”, to pay attention to our advice, in order to prevent them from reaping the destruction caused by making poor choices (Proverbs 7:2).

Those who harm the Lord's anointed children or Israel, His chosen nation, will truly suffer from His hand, because they touch the “apple of His eye” (Zechariah 2:8). God protects His own.

Sometimes, we may wound a brother or a sister; or we may walk in sin for a season, which grieves God's Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). At times like these, we plead with God to forgive us and to keep us as the ”apple of His eye”.  

We hide in the shadow of His wings and He saves us from our enemies and the issues of life, which threaten to overpower us (Psalm 17:8; Lamentations 2:18). This intimate expression reminds us about the extent of God's love for each one of His Saints.

God took on a human form in order to pay the penalty, which we reaped from the first Adam's sin (Philippians 2:7-8; 1 Corinthians 15:45). Emmanuel, God with us, felt the degradation, insecurity and weight of living on this sin-cursed earth.

God went all the way to the cross to make it possible for us to dwell with Him for eternity. All He asks is for us to keep His commandments, which were designed to protect us, not to restrict us (John 14:23).

Prayer:

Father God, You encourage us to keep Your precepts as the apple of our eye (Proverbs 7:2). Please, remind us to hide Your Word in our heart, so that we will not sin against You (Psalm 119:11). The nation of Israel was the first “apple of Your eye”. They strayed from You, as we tend to do; but we thank You for giving all Gentile unbelievers a chance to know You, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent to save us (John 17:3). Truly, this is eternal life, which we can enjoy now, as well as all throughout eternity.

Thought for the Day:

It is interesting to realize that any person we speak to sees a small image of their profile reflecting in the pupil of our eye.

More Valuable than Fine Gold

God never changes, and His Word is consistent as well (1 Samuel 15:29; 1 John 2:7; Psalm 55:19; Malachi 3:6). Hiding God's Word in our mind and seeking Him with our whole heart prevents us from sinning against Him. His statutes are more valuable to us than fine gold. We delight in His ways and give testimony of His provision in our life (Psalm 119:9-116). His Word is eternal and gives us life (Psalm 119:160).

The Old and New Testament are equally important (2 Peter 3:15-16). The still, small voice of God directs our daily activity as we bathe in His Word and seek His face (Isaiah 30:21). If we are Born Again, we do not practice a lifestyle of sin (1 John 3:4-9; Proverbs 3:11-18). Yet, if we refuse to surrender our life to God, and we continue to practice sin, we condemn our self to eternal destruction (John 3:18; 1 Corinthians 11:27-32).

We can trust that God will give us relief in our days of trouble, until He raptures us, or we pass from this sin-cursed world (Psalm 94:10-13). When we live within God's precepts, we enjoy a good conscience and a peaceful life (Psalm 119:7). If we teach our children to live according to God's Word, they have a better chance of remaining on the path of purity and blessings.

God's Spirit helps us to recall the scriptures, which we hide in our heart, and He leads us into His holy truth (John 14:26, 16:13; Psalm 119:11). He enables us to act upon what we learn, rather than being perpetual students and never walking in His ways (James 1:22-25). The Spirit gives us wisdom from God's inspired Word, as we regard His instruction and walk in His ways (Proverbs 20:32-36, James 1:5-8).

Prayer:

Father God, You bless those who refrain from the worldly paths of life, which lead to unrighteousness. You consecrate those who do not join in with those who have a penchant for mocking You and Your children (Psalm 1:1-2). Thank You for drawing us by Your Spirit and never letting us walk away from Your eternal love. We treasure the fine gold of Your Word, we enjoy spending time listening to Your voice and we depend upon the leading of Your Spirit with each new day.

Thought for the Day:

When we sink our roots deeper in the water of God's Word, we will live blessed, fruitful and prosperous lives. - Psalm 1:3

Jehovah-Jireh, My Provider

Read: Matthew 6:25-33

So Abraham called that place “The Lord Will Provide”. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided." – Genesis 22:14

We say that Jehovah-Jireh means, “The Lord Who Provides” (Genesis 22:12-14). The name literally means, “The Lord Who Sees” or “The Lord Who Will See To It”. This is what God promises to all of us who will trust in His name. He is the One who sees our need and He will also see to its provision (Psalm 37:4). Abraham spoke this name when God provided a ram caught in the thicket. This meant that God supplied the sacrifice and Abraham did not have to sacrifice his son, as he originally thought he would have to do. 

God tells us never to worry about our life; not about what we will eat or drink, or about our body and what we will wear. He reminds us that there are more important things in life than food and clothing. Jesus pointed to the birds in the air. He mentioned, that although they do not toil, our Heavenly Father feeds them. He also declared that the lilies of the field are here today and gone tomorrow, but God provides for them in beauty and splendor during their life span.

We are more valuable to God than the fowl and the grass, and He will provide for us so much more. Jesus reminds us that worry cannot add even one hour to our life. He made it clear that the unconverted person dedicates his/her life to pursuing carnal, worldly goals; but we are to pursue His kingdom and holiness above all else. In return, He will give us everything we need (Matthew 6:25-33). The Bible invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). 

The bountiful provision of the Father is evident over and over again in Biblical accounts. Stephen, a chosen disciple of the apostles of Christ, preached a sermon and his opposition stoned him to death; however, in the midst of this narrative, we see that Stephen looks up and God opens the heavens for Stephen to actually see Jesus standing at the right hand of our Father. I don’t think Stephen ever felt another stone (Acts 6:8-8:1).  

David declares that in all the years of his life, he never saw the righteous forsaken, nor did their children or grandchildren ever have to beg for bread (Psalm 37:25). The Lord shepherds us throughout our lifetime (Psalm 23:1). He provides for all of our needs. We may go without what we want, but our basic needs of food and shelter, which includes clothes, are given when needed (1 Timothy 6:8). 

In fact, Paul, who suffered every type of peril including nakedness, told Timothy that godliness is actually a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment (1 Timothy 6:6). We can learn as Paul did to be content with what God provides for us (Philippians 4:11). God gives His children a comfortable lifestyle, even though the way may not always be smooth. As we view the circumstance in our life from God’s perspective, He gives us His peace and joy that rise above any trial we may ever experience (Philippians 4:7). 

God also gives us rest and restores our soul ~ our mind, will and emotions ~ to complete health (Psalm 16:9; 62: 1,5; 116:7; Isaiah 58:11). Even if we end up homeless and without any money, He will provide for us as He did for the prophet Elijah. Twice angels fixed him warm bread over hot coals along with a jar of water (1 Kings 16). Another time, the ravens raided someone’s bab-b-que and brought him bread and meat in the morning and again bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook (1 Kings 17:6). God will supply for us as well. 

Jehovah-Jireh guides and directs our steps. Even if we stumble, we never get utterly cast down, because He upholds us in His hands (Psalm 18: 35; Psalm 37: 24). The name Jehovah-Jireh is a reminder to us in these crucial times we live in today. As we seek to know the Father first, we are assured that our Heavenly Father is able to provide any need we have (Matthew 6:33). We can trust Him to keep His Word. 

Even through the worse fear mankind has to face, God walks with us through death (Psalm 23:1). We have no reason to fear any evil, because even if we experience heartache or physical distress, He is with us (2 Corinthians 1:10). He works all things, even the bad things, out for our good (Romans 8:28). God even transforms us into the image of Christ as we walk through sanctification. He constantly convicts us of unrighteousness, so that we will walk blamelessly as a testimony to the world of God’s love for us. He may correct us with His rod, or redirect us with His staff, but they always bring us comfort and joy (Psalm 23:4). 

Prayer:
Lord God, You rescue us even from mortal danger, and You will save us again and again throughout our lives. We place all our confidence in You, and You will continue to liberate us (2 Corinthians 1:10). If we are thrown into a blazing furnace like the young Hebrew men, You are able to save us from it, and You will rescue us (Daniel 3:17).  We continually put our hope in You, who are our living God, who are the Savior of all men, women and children everywhere, and especially of those who believe in You (1 Timothy 4:10).

Thought for the Day:
Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. - Ephesians 1:3