Learning to See God

 

Many of us ask how to hear God better, but maybe it’s more basic to first learn how to see.

 

The Bible gives us a comprehensive picture of God.

 

We get a wide-angle view of God and His ongoing interactions with mankind by reading the Bible cover to cover, preferably in more than one translation.

 

For an up close and personal relationship, we zoom in by becoming acquainted with Old Testament worshipers and by reading the Gospels and seeing how God clearly shows Himself in the character, wisdom, healing acts, forgiveness, and love of His Son Jesus.

 

Creation reveals the power and majesty of God.

 

The universe invites us into the unknown and helps us to see and acknowledge the ongoing mystery of God.

 

The earth displays the colorful variety and creative beauty of our Creator. As we exercise our own creativity in the light of God’s image, we see tiny details, enormous diversity, and infinite possibilities.

 

Personal, local, and world events help us to see our need for God.

 

As we become aware of a problem, large or small, we might see something specific to pray about, trusting God has a purpose for whatever He allows.

 

Godly friends and family help us to see God.

 

In both the Old Testament and the New, God calls us into community through family, friends, and fellow worshipers, each of whom has a unique way of seeing God’s hand in their lives and ours. These perspectives help us to expand our own view of our loving God.

 

Confession removes blinders so we can better see.

 

Bible Gateway provides many translations of a key-to-seeing verse in Matthew 7:5. As you look through a few of these, notice the repetitive phrase involving seeing:

 

“…first get the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye,” Amplified (AMP.)

 

“First take the log out of your eye, and then you’ll see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s or sister’s eye,” Common English Bible (CEB.)

 

“…first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye,” King James Version (KJV.)

 

“…remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye,” New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE.)

 

“…first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye,” New International Version (NIV.)

 

Confessing our mistakes allows us to see clearly again, which brings discernment and a faultless view of God.

 

With clear, discerning vision, we can see and perceive God in circumstances, other people, and ourselves.

 

Then we can recognize the light in and around us.

 

Then we’ll be apt to look for good.

 

Then we can see and be love as God sees us into His Kingdom.

 

 

©2021, Mary Sayler, poet-writer, lifelong student of the Bible

 

 

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