Spiritual Intelligence: Do You See What I See?

Do you see what I see my dear friends? Something has badly gone wrong… Our priorities have been hijacked and misguided. Like Naomi, we need to return home, return to our first love, return to power and strength!

As a backdrop, lets consider this passage;

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”

I always find this account captured in Matthew’s Gospel fascinating. Even though these men had wealth, honour, power, influence and intelligence, they still recognised the place of God in their lives. So it saddens me to see spirit filled believers, chasing what these fellas had at the expense of what they have.

It was Jesus’ burning desire that we recognise, protect and nurture what we have, so we don’t lose it or have it stolen by our adversary, hence he said:

So don’t worry at all about having enough food and clothing. Why be like the heathen? For they take pride in all these things and are deeply concerned about them. But your heavenly Father already knows perfectly well that you need them, and he will give them to you if you give him first place in your life and live as he wants you to.

We fast forward after Jesus’ death and we stumble across Peter’s stern rebuke to Simon when he tried to offer them money in exchange for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

When Simon saw that the apostles by merely laying on hands conferred the Spirit, he pulled out his money, excited, and said,

Sell me your secret! Show me how you did that! How much do you want? Name your price!”

Peter said, “To hell with your money! And you along with it. Why, that’s unthinkable—trying to buy God’s gift! You’ll never be part of what God is doing by striking bargains and offering bribes. Change your ways—and now! Ask the Master to forgive you for trying to use God to make money. I can see this is an old habit with you; you reek with money-lust.

Little wonder why this subject came up again in John’s revelation on the Isle of Patmos, as a note of caution to us:

Here’s what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.

Lets us pray. Lord help us to recognise, protect and nurture your gift to us. Help us to make the right choices, help us to prioritise our lives, help us to lead praiseworthy lives – amen.

~ Sabali