Blinded by Religion

Wednesday 8-3-2016   Home in Modesto

Scripture Reading:  Nahum 1 – 3    John 5

S=Scripture  O=Observation  A=Application  P=Prayer  SOAP for the soul.

S.  John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.  But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.  NKJV

O.  Jesus was dealing with the unbelieving elite among the Jews. They were heavily involved in the Holy Scriptures, the Old Testament books. They studied them and memorized whole sections. They sang the psalms. Many of them meticulously tried to live by the ceremonial laws of Moses and even added complicated additional regulations. They knew that the Messiah, the Christ, was to come, but Jesus didn’t have enough pizazz to be their Messiah. He hung around the wrong crowd, the kind of people that these elite considered to be dirt under their feet. Jesus’ robe was doubtless soiled by the hundreds of sick people that reached out to touch His clothes. (Mark 6:56, Luke 6:19) These elite men were spotlessly clean… on the outside. They searched their Bible, but shut their eyes to the many prophecies that pointed clearly to Jesus’ life and ministry. 

A.  The whole book is about Jesus, but biased students missed Him.  Now we have the benefit of the New Testament.  The Old Testament looks forward to Him.  The Gospels describe Him.  The book of Acts shows Him in action through his disciples.  The epistles direct all eyes upon Him and The Revelation crowns Him King of kings. If I read the scriptures with an open heart, I am certain to find Jesus.  

P.  Jesus, how painful it must have been to come to Your own people and be rejected by them.  “You came to Your own (domain) and Your own (people) did not receive You. But as many as received You, to them You gave the right to become children of God…” (John 1:11-12) Had I been there, might I have been among these unbelieving elite?... blinded by religious pride?  Lord, please keep me free from the clutter of ceremonious religion so that I can see You clearly, my Savior, my Christ and my King.  Amen.

Ralph

Open my eyes that I may see

Clara H. Scott 1895

1.    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.

o   Refrain 1:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

2.    Open my ears, that I may hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.

o   Refrain 2:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my ears, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

3.    Open my mind, that I may read
More of Thy love in word and deed;
What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead?
Only for light from Thee I plead.

o   Refrain 3:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my mind, illumine me,
Spirit divine!

4.    Open my mouth, and let me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.

o   Refrain 4:
Silently now I wait for Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my heart, illumine me,
Spirit divine!