Unclogging

(Acts Study)

“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;

you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”

For this people’s heart has become calloused;

they hardly hear with their ears,

and they have closed their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

hear with their ears,

understand with their hearts

and turn, and I would heal them.” (Acts 28: 26-27 NIV)

These verses from Isaiah 6:10 are repeated several times in the New Testament (Matt 13:5, Mark 4:12, John 12:40).

When I read these verses, I think of the following images: heart vessels hardened with cholesterol and plaque, ears clogged with wax, blurred vision from substance abuse--all of which prevent us from functioning properly. Similarly, our spirits can get clogged and dysfunctional from our daily choices. When worldly concerns restrict the flow of the Holy Spirit, our understanding is impaired and our perception is skewed. If we desire to be healed and whole, all blockages have to be cleared. We have to be completely open.

I read the following in Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary: “Christians, when tempted from their main business, should bring themselves back with this question, What does this concern the Lord Jesus? What tendency has it to bring us to him, and to keep us walking in him?”

First of all, this reminds us that our main business is God’s business. (Sometimes we treat this as a side business.) It’s easy to clog up our purpose with distractions. The question: “How does this concern the Lord?”--can clear the passageway.

Open our eyes, ears, and hearts--so that we may perceive You, Lord--and You may heal us.