“If your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
Matthew 6:22
The grace that is there to be given to me in the exercise of my gifts comes only when my eye is “clear”, or single. I have to be focusing on one thing; my goal has to be the right one, my motivations have to be pure, and only then does the grace come. My body is full of light. Understanding comes easily, and my mind gracefully digests the knots of information, untangling one fine strand after another until they are laid out clearly for all to see. I am too easily distracted by other thoughts, thoughts of fame and glory sometimes, but usually thoughts of a quiet scholarly acclaim from those among whom I most desire to find acceptance, and when that happens I lose the clarity. My mind goes fuzzy, and although I can work, it just doesn't feel right. It might get good marks, but it lacks a soul. When I'm trying to be clever or scholarly or even just plain brilliant it doesn't work. To be full of light I have to take my eye off of those goals, and fix it on Jesus Christ, the embodiment of the work of His Kingdom, and accept the ends that he has for my work.
But we can only have a clear or single eye through His grace as well. As we seek to focus on Him, He draws near to us to give us that clarity. Without His grace at work on our behalf, we are as nothing!
ReplyDeleteI love this verse. I also can relate; it can be frightening to with draw from our goals and focus on Christ's.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder, Marina!