“…Anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” Revelation 3:18
Eye Salve is a short devotional that Pastor Terry Fischer writes regularly to challenge and encourage the saints of God.
It is meant to be short and sweet and comes from his daily reading and prayer.
“When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Shew a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.” Exodus 7:9
Why would Pharaoh challenge Moses to show him a miracle? I believe it is because he is assuming that if Moses’s God is really a God then He will be able to do miracles. Now, if we can just get the church to believe that again.
“But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” Acts 6:4
It is one thing to do things, it is another to give yourself over to them. It is one thing to make a commitment to someone, it is another thing to give yourself over to him. To whom and what have you given yourself to?
“And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:” Genesis 46:3
God clearly told Jacob (Israel) to go down to Egypt. Four hundred and some years later God rebuked Israel for wanting to go back to Egypt. Where God led you years ago may not be where He wants you to be today. Where God may lead you today may not be the place he wants you to be at tomorrow.
“And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.” Genesis 41:1
When you bake something in an oven and remove it too soon, it will not be done. If you leave it in too long, it will burn. It was the Lord who determined that two full years were to pass for Joseph before He would bring him out of prison. God didn’t want to bring Joseph out of prison before he was fully done. God has precise and perfect timing over all of our lives.
“But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.” Genesis 40:14-15
Joseph did nothing that deserved being put in prison. This all came about because one day, his father Jacob showed him favoritism and made him a coat of many colors. Saint of God, many of the trials you face are not because you did something wrong. It is only because the God of heaven has favor upon you and hell cannot stand it.
“And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.” Genesis 39:5-6
We the church, have the same responsibility as Joseph. Just as Joseph was in charge of all of Potiphar’s house and all that he had, so are we here on this earth in charge of all that God has. We are to be good stewards of His kingdom here on earth.
“But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.” Matthew 20:22-23
Did you notice Jesus did not rebuke the two disciples when they said they were able to drink from His cup and be baptized with His baptism. Jesus did not consider them to be proud. He won’t rebuke you either or consider you proud if you believe you are able to drink of Jesus cup and be baptized with His baptism.
“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.†Matthew 18:10
It is one thing for those of this world to despise those young babes in Christ. It is a whole other thing when Christians despise those babes in Christ. Sure, they may not have read the Bible through even once, they may not even have a scripture memorized. But they do have one thing, and that is simple faith. Ah, for simple faith. Hasn’t many of our troubles come because our faith got to complicated? Haven’t we at times got so theological and sophisticated that we forgot to just believe in the Lord all along the way?
