Give Me Your Eyes

"Give me your eyes for just one second,
Give me your eyes so I can see,
Everything that I keep missing,
Give me your love for humanity,
Give me your arms for the broken hearted,
The ones that are far beyond my reach,
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten,
Give me your eyes so I can see."

Brandon Heath

I bought this guys CD the other night after listening to this song of his called "Give Me Your Eyes". It blew me away! Maybe this isn't profound to anyone else but me, but my goodness! Should this not be our prayer? How often do we in this life pass others by that truly need to hear of the goodnes that is Jesus Christ? The answer is all too often! We all get so consumed with our own little slice of life that we forget all others around us...to say that this isn't you...is more than likely a lie (please know that I recognize that there are certainly exceptions to this rule...but they are truly the exception rather than the rule).

***Side note to the above...I don't believe that we are supposed to excuse ourselves from our families for the sake of everyone else...if you have a family...I believe that you are responsible to your family first then others.***

Certainly there will be people that read this that think they are doing everything right. If that is you...God Bless you...but I know for me, I am off alot of times in what I need to be doing. Don't get me wrong...if God leads me to witness to someone, I am faithful to do so (for the most part) but I often wonder how much more effective I could be for His kingdom? If He called me to leave the United States and go to some foreign country with my family...would I be faithful like Paul and the other disciples and follow obediently or would I be like Jonah...disobedient? I would like think that I would be like Paul...but in my heart I fear I would be like Jonah. I am just being honest in that. I love my wife and my kids and the fear of going to some other country terrifies me...especially taking them along with me. The future is definitely a scary thing...but guess what...Hell is scarier! Through God's strength only I believe in the end I would wind up doing what He called me to...but it would be extremely hard.

Have you ever thought about why we can share with people, who we are listening to on our Ipods or what our favorite sports team is (go Cleveland Cavaliers!!!) and why it is so hard to share the gospel of Christ with others? This question has been on my mind and then I listened to this song and something started clicking for me...then as I started typing this...something else hit me...I believe the reason that sharing the gospel of Christ with others is so hard because 9 out of 10 times we are doing in our own strength...our flesh is leading us. Last year I had the opportunity to witness to 3 or 4 Jehovah's Witnesses. They were coming to my neighbor's house and never talking to anyone, but the fact that they were there...bothered me! I would be cutting grass on Saturday morning's and see them pull up in their Toyota Avalon and pile out like circus clowns toting their false bibles and wearing their Sunday best. Instantly I was infuriated that these people were talking to my neighbors about a Jesus that was a lie! That went on for a few weeks and finally after praying about it (admittedly, I should have prayed more) I went over to them as they were leaving. I shook their hands and asked them if they were Jehovah's Witnesses. They said they were. They asked if had a religious belief and I told them that I was a Christian. For the next few weeks we engaged in dialogue that was seemingly a waste of time. Then it hit me...I wasn't really angry that these liars were trying to witness to my neighbor...I was angry that I wasn't doing it myself!

Another Saturday I saw my neighbor outside playing with a little boy in her driveway. I went over and started talknig to her and God opened a door and I walked through it. We talked for maybe 30 to 45 minutes. I'm happy to say that as a result of that conversation the Jehovah's Witnesses no longer come to her house...but please know...that is God's doing...not mine. To Him be the glory for that victory!

See, I think it is hard to share Christ because we pick and choose who we want to save rather than letting Him lead us to who He wants us to talk to. We need to be Holy Spirit led in our witnessing just like everything else. You could turn someone completely off to Jesus if God hasn't led you to them. I think it is entirely possible for you to plant seeds on these interactions, but how much more could come out of these engagements if God led you...SPECIFICALLY YOU...to an individual for you to witness to? That's the man I want to be. I want to be so obedient that when God tells to go to someone I go. I don't want to do things out of step with Him. I want to be the brush God uses to paint the picture of salvation in someones life. I want to be a tool used by Him and for Him all the time.

The song I quoted is important to me and as I am typing this my wife is growing exceedingly annoyed because it has been playing for about 30 minutes (with no end in sight). I want this to be a picture of my life. I want people to look at me and be able to say that God has His hand on my life and that I was obedient to Him...even at the cost of my life (right after I typed that I hear Satan whipering in my ear...Do you really mean that?)! I HATE Satan and pray that as a result of being used for Christ I am able to give him an ulser that causes him unbearable heartburn! I hate heartburn almost as much as I hate sour beef!

I pray that this year I am given Christ's eyes for people (cause last year...I really didn't like people). I also pray that more and more Christians adopt this trait and that we are no longer bashful with our faith, but bold and strong! Sharing with the people that God would have us share with...and guess what...if all of us Christians are sharing with people...everyone will be reached!

Be blessed!