Opening the Eyes of Our Hearts

2 Sam. 11:1-6 (ESV): In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.

In 2 Samuel 11 we read that while David should have been going out to battle and fighting for the Lord, he purposely decided to stay home. Most likely he knew that he should have gone to battle as it says clearly above, but the luxuries of staying home were a lot more appealing in his eyes than fighting alongside of his faithful men and carrying out his given duty as King over Israel. This was already the first temptation, and although David could not have foreseen that it would lead him to sin, he had already entered into that situation. From then on, the accidental sight of seeing Bathsheba bathing on the roof of his house led him to lust, committing adultury, and eventually, the murder of a dutiful man (her husband Uriah the Hittite) and the covering up of his sin (trying to make it seem as if the child of his adultery is a legal heir when he married Bathesheba after Uriah's death aka murder).

 Reading this passage struck a chord with me as it dawned that often in my own life I often set up the stage for temptations to enter. By making what seems like an innocent enough decision/thought, I then walk in and that leads to more and more sin. Often I know I should be dealing with certain chores in my line of work to prepare for what is coming, and then as I am spending time with the Lord waiting for the Spirit to come and cleanse me, I am distracted by worldly things on a computer, or thinking of keeping up with the news,etc. It then leads me from wasting more time than I originally planned to lusting after things of this world, and my heart is already wandering off into deep sin when I already know the Truth. How easily I have already understimated the power of sin!

Matt. 6:22-3 (ESV): The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, [23] but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! 

1 Jn. 2:16 (NIV): For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes . . .—comes not from God but from the world.

What my eyes have seen influence greatly what decisions/thoughts I will follow or make with my mind and heart. It stays that my eyes are the lamp of my body and help guide or direct which way I decide to follow. I know I am a child of God and have been redeemed by Jesus' love and sacrifice, but I earnestly need to keep training to keep my eyes, heart and mind on the Lord to make wiser decisions so that I can truly be a vessel for Christ in my life's mission as a Christian.

Lord, thank you for revealing that we often underestimate how deadly is the power of sin, and how easy for temptation to sweep us into that web. Father, we repent of our sin and foolish decisions. Open the eyes of our hearts to make wise decisions so that we can fight sin-send us your Holy Spirit to guide and help us discern what is true. May our eyes be fixed on your Word of Truth so that we can really be used for your Kingdom work here on earth. Help us stand firm and make decisions based on your character and wisdom. Let our hearts truly be purified so that we are becoming more and more like Christ.