Happy Eyes

Don't you just love the look on a child's face when he or she opens a gift, and it is a wonderful surprise? The anticipation was building as the child looked at a colorful, maybe even shiny or sparkly box that was meant just for him or her. Ideas may race through the mind as to what it could be. The gift may be sized up, picked up to determine the weight of it, or shaken, but when there is no idea what it could be, the gift is opened and the facial expression usually reveals what is going on inside the heart and mind of the recipient. Eyes either look down in disappointment (but hopefully thankfulness!) or widen with happiness if the prize inside is something that is truly desired, even if it wasn't on the birthday or Christmas list.

Gifts can come in packages that are not entirely physical. It could be a compliment, a kind deed, transportation, doing some research for someone, stepping in when staffing is short, or even a spiritual blessing such as wisdom, peace, joy, love, even salvation that God alone can give.

I was reading 1 Corinthians 2, and came across this wonderful verse: "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (1 Cor. 2:9). We can get all excited and start envisioning sports cars, mansions, large fertile land masses, boats, etc. Our eyes widen like the "happy eyes" I described earlier.

But is God talking about physical lusts? Vs. 10-12 state, "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."

As I read that in context, I realized that the spiritual wealth revealed by the Spirit of God through His Word and the abundant life that is a result is what is greater than man can imagine! The things of this earth are temporal, but the things of God are eternal, and are the things that really count in life.

Have you opened your spiritual gifts found in God's Word? Why not dig in today, and see if your happy eyes engage as you learn and grow and enjoy the wonderful things God has in store for you! It might even include applying those riches you have found in the Bible as you venture out in new jobs, new callings, new relationships, or just new perspectives in the same setting you are in now. Where does it all start? In loving God.