1. Daily Bible Thoughts
Sunday September 13th
2015
(Day 256)
Isn’t it strange how you can look at something and not really see it? I enjoy seeing the artwork of Bev Doolittle.
She’s an American artist with an incredibly unique talent. Her paintings of the Southwest and Native American
scenes are unique because as you study them, they nearly always tell a greater story than what you originally saw.
She is quite the gifted artist. Paul, another gifted artist in quite a different medium, shows us something similar in
his writings today as he talks about looking with our eyes, yet seeing with our heart…
Today’s Scriptures
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18
while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.
For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 1 COR 4:18
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One of the things Paul is saying here, is that as believers, we should be seeing things differently than those around
us. For Paul, life is more or less one giant masterpiece, and looking at it was a bit like our looking at a Bev Doolittle
painting. At first glance we see the painting or the portrait of life, but as we study it, we begin to see many more
things than simply the painting we thought we were looking at. We begin to see this painting from the perspective
of the artist, and the more we see the painting from the artist’s viewpoint, the more beautiful it becomes.
I believe this is very much what Paul was getting at here when he wrote that we do not look at the things which
are seen, but at the things which are not seen. He’s saying that we are not limited to seeing life from the same
viewpoint that everyone else sees it, because our vision goes much deeper than that. We are able to focus on life
from a different perspective; one that very few people ever really do see.
I’ve often wondered how much of the masterpiece people never even see when they glance at a Doolittle painting.
In like manner, I sometimes wonder how much of the masterpiece of life many people miss from their limited,
earthly persepctive.
Although I’ve never had the privilege of meeting Bev Doolittle, I’m certain I would like her very much. For one
thing, as a gifted artist, she takes her craft seriously. I love how she never puts meaningless images within the
body of her greater work. She isn‘t trying to be clever by inserting hidden images. Like her “Calling the Buffalo”
they are always connected to the masterpiece and together, they tell a greater story than what you would first see.
Then Paul explains in greater detail more of what he means. He wrote, “For the things which are seen are
temporary.” That is, one day they will vanish or they’ll be left behind. So these things then that are obvious and
are what everyone else sees; are not the most important parts of the painting. And finishing the thought he adds,
“…but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Did you get that? He’s saying that the things, the features, the
elements that everyone else is missing, are the most important parts of the masterpiece of life.
At times, in order to see the hidden image, or sometimes even the main element, like in Doolittle’s “Season of the
Eagle,” you have to step back from the painting to really see what the artist is trying to show you. That’s true in
life as well. We need to step back and listen to the Artist, and He’ll show us all the images that are in the painting.
Bringing it Home:
So to wrap this up tonight, I’d like to do a quick comparison of these two viewpoints. For one, what the world
obviously sees is the temporal while believers see the eternal. Also, what the world sees as life’s problems, or
people’s misery, we should see as opportunities to provide ministry and comfort. And finally, the world sees life as
a chance to promote “self.” What we should be seeing in the masterpiece of life is the opportunity to serve others.
Jesus, help us to see Your masterpiece of life with our hearts. – Ron & the guys
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Sunday’s Reading
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Day 256 Sun. Sept. 13th
Sun. Sept. 13 Isaiah 17:1-18:7 Psalm 106:32-39 Prov 25:11-12 2 COR 5:1-21
What Do You See?