Eyes Open to God

Our July theme for the Today devotions, written by Arie Leder, is “Eyes Open to God.”

“How are you doing?”

It’s a simple question, but one that can be taken in many different ways. When you’re chatting with the cashier at the store checkout, “How are you doing?” is like saying “hello.” If your doctor asks you that question, you’re expected to provide an update about your medical status. When meeting a friend for coffee, she probably wants to know what’s been happening since you last spent time together.

Has anyone ever asked you this question as it relates to your spiritual life? “How are you doing spiritually?” Maybe you’ve been convicted about certain sins recently. Perhaps you feel compelled to do something new for God. Or maybe your heart has been moved—yet again—by how amazing God’s grace is.

Timothy Keller summarizes well the big pictures of how we’re all doing spiritually: “The gospel says you are more sinful and flawed than you ever dared believe, but more accepted and loved than you ever dared hope.” John Newton, the author of the hymn “Amazing Grace,” shared a similar concept toward the end of his life: “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”

Arie Leder, this month’s author recognizes this same dynamic throughout the book of Judges.

We often abandon our Lord in favor of this world’s attractions. With eyes open to the truth, we can also see God’s endless patience with an undeserving people and our need to be saved from ourselves. Above all, eyes open to God help us see that we are not our own, “but belong—body and soul, in life and in death”—to our patient, merciful Judge and Redeemer, Jesus Christ (see Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 1).

Arie C. Leder is Johanna K. and Martin J. Wyngaarden Senior Professor of Old Testament Studies, emeritus, of Calvin Theological Seminary. He previously served as pastor at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church, Trenton, Ontario, and with Christian Reformed World Missions in Latin America.

As you read the Today devotionals this month, may you be refreshed, refocused, and renewed in God’s Word!