Monday, May 29, 2017

Mon.’s Devo - Eyes of Love

Read: 2 Samuel 14:1-15:22; John 18:1-24; Psalm 119:97-112; Proverbs 16:8-9
Joab was a good servant to David and saw David’s grief over the distance between David and Absalom and wanted to help. He hired an actress to bring David a story which paralleled his own. It was easier for David to see what was right about another person’s situation and not his own. How true that is in life. It is much easier to see things from a distance in someone else’s life than up close in our own.
David got the message and allowed Absalom to come back to Jerusalem but he refused to meet with Absalom which led to him losing his kingdom. Absalom used manipulation and flattery to win the hearts of the people. He eventually formed a coup to take David’s kingdom and David had to flee for his life. David told Ittai to go back to the palace and be his spy. “Ittai” means “with me” because he was with David.
In John, Jesus had gone to the garden of Gethsemane to pray. Judas knew the place, so he showed up with a squad of soldiers. When Jesus said, “I am.” they all fell backwards to the ground under the power of God. Peter, in his zeal, took his sword and cut off the ear of the high priest’s servant. In Luke 22:51, we read that Jesus touched his ear and healed him. All these signs and miracles just added to the judgment against this generation.
They led Jesus to Annas’ house first who was the high priest’s father-in-law. Peter and John followed Jesus, and John was able to go into the house since he knew the high priest. Peter stood outside where he denied Jesus three times.
The high priest put Jesus on trial which broke their laws of trying a man in a private place. He struck Jesus with a slap in the face which broke another of their laws. By the time it was over, they had broken 21 of their laws just to get rid of Jesus. They were truly hippocrites. From there he was sent to Caiaphas’ house to be abused even more.
Both David and the Jews were blinded by their own ambitions and offenses to see the truth. That is so easy to do. Only God can open our eyes to see through his eyes of love.
Lord, help us to see with eyes of love instead of eyes of judgment.

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