In the early 1970's, I remember driving around in my VW Beetle listening to a song by Johnny Cash in which were the words "I see men as trees walking." This song told the story of the encounter of a blind man with Jesus in Mark 8:22-25. This passage relates how Jesus spit on the man's eyes, put his hands on him and asked him what he saw. The man said," I see people, they look like trees walking." Jesus touched the man a second time and the man saw clearly.Do you ever feel that way, like you need a second touch? Like you need to read it again or take a second look at it? I do!
Routine Obscures the View
I think I can get busy with life and busy doing the activities associated with a "walk with God" that my sight of Jesus gets off. My sense of wonder and awe become veiled. Sometimes things begin to become more of a routine performance than heart relationship.
That is when I need a second touch, a second look into Jesus. The story in Mark 8:22-26 reminds us that true sight comes from God, so I start with prayer, asking God to show me Jesus, to take me deeper into knowing him. As I progress in "knowing Jesus" I am sure I will need more of these second looks.
I started this quest by looking at what we have "in" Jesus and "through" Jesus. These are little words that open up another dimension to knowing Jesus.
Created In Jesus For
In the letter to the Ephesians in chapter 2 and verse 10, Paul reveals an eye opening truth about Jesus. It reads:
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Three important truths come from this passage. I am God's handiwork. That word is also translated workmanship. I am his workmanship. When I think of "workmanship," I think of a carpenter or a violin maker holding the wood,maybe even caressing it as he cuts, bends, shapes, shaves, joins and engraves it. God enthroned above is actually involved in forming something in and through me and my life. This truth should dispel any doubt about my value or his love for me.
This working of God is happening in me as I am "in Jesus;" and this creative action is towards the purpose of my doing good works.
