Week of May 13, 2024
Extreme Faithfulness
Week of May 12 – Eyes Opened
From humanity’s fall into sin, there has always been much spiritual darkness in the world. People are by nature blind to God’s presence, love, and truth and need to have their eyes opened. In this week’s story from 2 Kings, God opens the eyes of the prophet Elisha's servant so that he can see that God fights for Elisha and that God will prevail. Likewise, it is the Holy Spirit who give us clarity of vision regarding who God is and what he has done for us. How has God opened your eyes of faith?
Monday | 2 Kings 6:8-23
In this story, the king of Aram seeks to trap the prophet Elisha but the forces of God surround him bringing protection. Elisha asks God to open his servant’s eyes to this supernatural reality. Describe an experience in which God opened your eyes of faith to an aspect of his goodness and truth. What tends to make us skeptical of any supernatural visions from God? What are spiritual practices through which the Holy Spirit will open our eyes?
Tuesday | Isaiah 42:5-9
This section from the prophet Isaiah anticipates both the coming of the Messiah and describes the calling of God’s people. Jesus came to open the eyes of the blind and his followers are to be a light to the world. What false beliefs and sinful bondage blind people today? In addition to physical healing, how did Jesus open blinded eyes during his earthly ministry? What is the role of God’s people today in bringing light to the darkness?
Wednesday | 9:1-9, 18-25
Here the Apostle John describes in detail Jesus’ healing of a blind man and its aftermath. What was the immediate reaction of the blind man’s neighbors to his healing? What about the religious leaders? Beyond the healing of the man and the blessing it would be for his family, what were the greater purposes for such miracles of Jesus? In what way is an individual receiving faith in Jesus always a miracle? Describe how that came about in your life.
Thursday | Acts 9:1-9, 17-19
This is the story of the Apostle Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus. What made such a turnaround in Paul’s life so unlikely? Describe the total change of Paul’s perspective regarding Jesus of Nazareth. What is the spiritual and symbolic importance of Paul’s blindness following his encounter with Jesus and then having his sight restored? What do you think was the role of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s conversion?
Friday | 2 Corinthians 4:1-6
In this section of his letter, Paul speaks to the resistance that many people of his day had to the Gospel of Jesus. Who is “the god of this age” that Paul speaks of? What does Satan especially use today to blind people to Jesus’ Good News? What does the Holy Spirit especially use today to open eyes to the joy of Jesus’ Good News? What is the church’s role in shining the light of Jesus? What is your role?
