Eye Salve!

Revelation 3:18 - I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

Yesterday after posting my blog, I checked my email. I thought about just going to post my pastor's devotion for yesterday but I couldn't stop my mind from thinking and fingers typing. Figures.

In the scripture above Jesus is asking people, counseling them, to "buy" some important things. Today we buy things to meet our needs. But many tend to neglect their spiritual needs. Jesus suggests gold, which cannot be burned in the most extreme fire; white garments, which we all visualize as meaning purity and cleanness, covering the things that should not be seen...especially our sins. (We can be covered by the blood of Christ.) And then there's the eye salve. What is a salve? Doesn't it soothe? And when your eyes are soothed and you can see, isn't it wonderful? I'm in Arizona where it's dry...and I have the start of glaucoma in one eye...and occasionally an eye drop is necessary to relieve the burning sensation. Not eye salve, but you get the point.

My pastor, Terry Fischer, from The Church in Wisconsin (yes, that's the name of our church), does a near-daily devotion. He has so aptly named them Eyesalve. The Word of God, our Bibles, should be that eye salve in our lives. The Bible speaks of things past which relate to things present and future. It is truth and life. At least it should be to those who delve into His Word, who long to hear Him speak through it, to learn His ways, His commandments and who long to know Him and better take Him at His Word.

I've said this many times...not only is the Bible the Word, but Jesus is the Word. Jesus is the only Person who brings life. No pastor, no priest, no rabbi or Buddhist monk...or any monk. Jesus alone. There is also not one religion better than another. It's not about a religion anyway and all about a relationship with Jesus Christ...the same Jesus who is more costly than gold, covers our sins that we are clothed in righteousness and who is the Word whose words are like an eye salve.

The Bible starts with creation and ends with death...which becomes our eternal life or death. All throughout the pages between the beginning and end are glimpses of this Man, Jesus, whose only desire is that we follow Him for this eternal life, in Him, to heaven. There is another eternity but it does not include Jesus or God. It only includes eternal torment for those who choose not to take God--or Jesus--at His Word and believe what the Word says or what Jesus, the Living Word, says. I got to thinking about this place. Do we commiserate with others who have ended up there or do we experience this torment all by ourselves??? Being alone would be the ultimate agony. Total separation.

So, my pastor's blog so confirmed in my spirit that what I wrote earlier was on target. (Link to blog)

The words I write may come across as critical or judgmental. Consider them tempered in love...albeit tough love. Consider them words Jesus would preach. I would only pray that before anyone moves them into the trash bin, they keep on reading for the part that says Jesus loves you and died for you and desires that you seek Him for eternal life and to not follow Him is not good. Not all I write is soft and delightful. But then neither are all the passages of the Word of God.

The Word was written by men but inspired of God. I'm not saying all I write is inspired by God!!! I would hope my words would, however, reflect God's heart. Proverbs 14:12 says: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. I urge you to shake that "I'm a ... whatever denomination ..." It's all about Jesus. Are we true followers of Him or of a man made religion? Do we listen to the clergyman or hear Jesus through His Word? This might be convicting...do you read His Word to hear Him speak? Is your spirit being pricked?

His Word is for all to see and read. It is that eye salve. I urge anyone to begin to take Him at His Word. Open your hearts and minds to receive all He has for you...truth, blessing, judgment. I ask you to find a Bible, on line if absolutely necessary, and read all of John 3. It is an eye salve.

Again, if you did not read my blog yesterday, here's the link. Now, read and enjoy Pastor Terry's (short) devotion also from yesterday (emphasis is mine).

EYESALVE: BLESSING OR JUDGMENT
Posted on Nov 4 by Pastor Terry Fischer

“And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them.” Ez. 6:10

There are 43 similar verses in the bible that say “…they (or ye) shall know that I am the Lord…” 39 of those verses are in Ezekiel. There are two ways that God makes it known to people that He is the Lord; one way is through blessing the other through judgment. 31 of those 43 times Ezekiel makes this statement, he is prophesying judgment. If you have ever been accused of being judgmental because you are just simply holding to the word of God imagine how Ezekiel must have felt. Anyway, what will it take for you to know the Lord better, judgment or blessing?

You can read Pastor Terry's devotions (Eyesalves) here. And you can sign up for them. He's concise and speaks in truth! - Laurie