
Proverbs 27:6 – “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.” NASB
Have you ever taken a trip with six or seven people in a small car? Even a short trip can seem like an endless journey when you are packed in like sardines. I recall a friend telling of taking a trip in a small economy car with his family – six of them packed into that small vehicle.
He related the trip saying that he was unable to see through the back glass using the rearview mirror. They were so packed in, and it was an exercise in futility to try to get the children to all move in unison. He had to completely trust his son to advise him when it was safe to change lanes and his son realizing how difficult it was for the dad to trust him said, “Dad, you have to believe me. This is a real lesson in trust.”
The boy was the dad’s eyes. He was able to fill in the blind spots because he could see things from a better perspective. All of us have Blind Spots and need someone else to help us find them.
Our family and friends often see things in our lives from a clearer or different perspective than we do. We sometimes become aware of our blind spots as we see those same things in others. This was possibly the situation when Nathan the prophet went to David the king to point out his blind spot. Nathan used the approach of relating a supposed real incident to David and enable David to see for himself what his blind spot was.
One would think that Nathan’s story would have been unnecessary. How could a man cause the death of another without realizing the depravity of his own heart? Sadly, that is where David was. Maybe it was out of a sense of entitlement, I do not know, but in the story of David taking Uriah’s wife Bathsheba, and having Uriah killed in battle is a horrific story of how a man like David can descend into the trap of sin.
Nathan used a third-person story to get David’s attention and told of a rich man who had many sheep and a poor man who had only one. When Nathan told David how the rich man had stolen the poor man’s singular sheep David was furious and declared that the guilty party should be put to death. At that point, Nathan pointed his finger in David’s face and said, “You are the man!” David immediately recognized his blind spot and sin and cried out in repentance.
In saying this I must ask several questions as we seek to deal with our own blind spots and move forward into what God would have us become.
ARE YOU CONSISTENT?
James 1:8 tells us that a ‘double-minded’ man is unstable in all his ways. I am reminded of an account a preacher told me years ago. It was a time when God taught him the importance of consistency.
I heard a man relate an experience that hammered home this truth. He was rushing home after having dropped off some of their children at school and in the back seat was his youngest son. He was anxious to get home to attend to other things and began speeding down the highway. The child spoke up and said, “Dad you are going 75 miles an hour!” It took him by surprise because he didn’t think the child could read the speedometer but trying to conceal his surprise he said, “So what?” The little boy said, “But the speed limit is 55”
At that moment, the Holy Spirit began to minister to his heart, and he realized that it was in his heart that he could do wrong so long as he did not get caught and it was okay. He was, by his actions, teaching his child a double standard, and conviction gripped him. He was teaching his son that it was okay to say one thing and yet do another.
For most adults speeding is not a big deal but for a young child in the developmental stages of life it is breaking the law and therefore wrong – CUT and DRIED! It is a double standard and if we can do it there why not everywhere?
I have more questions to pose but will stop there and pray that God will grant you a great day and help you to be CONSISTENT!
I pray the rich and bountiful Blessings upon you today!