They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Mark 8:22-25 NIV
Lord Jesus, I love this story, for many reasons. It certainly highlights your kindness and your power. You care about every aspect of our being—body, soul, and spirit. But it also underscores that sometimes healing is a progressive experience. This broken man regained his sight in stages. He went from blindness, to blurred images, to clarity of sight. I’m like him.
Just as it’s time for me to upgrade the prescription lenses I wear, so it’s time for the “eyes of my heart” to see things better—to see with gospel clarity and charity.
Jesus, help me see people from your perspective and with your heart. Some people don’t look like trees to me; they look like irritants and obstacles—not your image bearers, but my joy robbers. Forgive me, Lord, and increase my capacity to see more in people than how they impact my life—either for good or for harm.
Jesus, help me see this crazy world we inhabit from your perspective. Even as you weep over our cities, so you rejoice in the City that is to come. Help me to grieve with hope, labor in love, and long with anticipation. Help me to see where your kingdom has already come, lest I despair, and give into fear and cynicism. Help me, like Abraham, to look “forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10).
Lastly—and most importantly, Jesus, let me see you more clearly than ever. Get the junk out of my eyes and heart—anything and everything that blurs your glory, distorts your beauty, and hides your grace. So very Amen I pray, in your wonderful and merciful name.