Those Eyes

"...One problem we modern readers have with the Bible is that we read it as we did when we were children. Our storybook Bibles split the text into short morality lessons, so we assume that's how we should read the text as adults. But it's actually not meant to be a collection of simple children's stories. It's a sophisticated, epic saga with a complex, interwoven plot". 1

The bible, an epic saga of salvation where we find ourselves woven into the written word and known by name.

I have called you by name, you are mine.

Isaiah 43:1

Those eyes.

They draw me in, I am mesmerized. I sense a peculiar intimacy in the pools of prayer taking place within and wonder, just what has him so intensely contemplative?

While we were yet in our sins, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8 

Could it be that 'certain sin' we covet, coddle, pamper, and pet today incited a holy zealousness within Christ that day for an ardent intercessory plea for mercy to The Eternal One on our behalf ?

Is it possible the serpent slithered up close to Jesus' ear, sneered, and hissed--
shes'ssssssss not worth it?

Was my name brought up in that ancient wilderness?

Was he beholding my face as he prayed?

Was he hunched and heavy in prayer for me that long ago moment in time, knowing full well the choices I would make today?

Father, I pray for them. 

Holy father, protect them by the power of your name, 

the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.

I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, 

so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them...

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

FOR THEM I SANCTIFY MYSELF, THAT THEY TOO MAY BE TRULY SANCTIFIED.

John 17:911,13,17,19

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O LORD, forgive! O LORD, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because we are your people and bear your name.

Daniel 9:19

I am convinced  he took each of us with him into the desert those 40 days and prayed for us by name.

And, I imagine, as the hot sands of our sin burned the soles of his feet, the heat of his affection for us seared his soul with a sold out conviction-

You're worth it.

May you read that epic saga again today as it is meant to be read, a personal letter of love to you.

1)WALKING in the DUST of RABBI JESUS, Lois Tverberg, pg 150