26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive:
27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
Acts 28: 26-27
In Acts 28, we see beautiful examples of friendship, hospitality, perseverance, willingness, and so much more. There are many lessons we can learn by examining Paul’s words and actions.
The thing that stands out to me most within this final chapter of Acts are verses above. It’s the way Paul instructs believers to approach the Lord. He says (paraphrasing here), your heart, mind, eyes, ears, and spirit are all burnt out and closed off. To understand and fully receive the healing of the Holy Spirit, you have to be both willing and completely open.
So often, we allow life to slowly dim our light, put out our flame, and cloud our minds. We slip into a routine, or maybe become overwhelmed with chaos. Either way, we find ourselves dull, and as we dull our relationship with the Father and the way we view Him dulls as well. We begin to worship from barely below the surface, we begin to rush through a daily devotional, and we begin to approach the throne out of habit. As these things become routine, or get pushed to the back burner, we see only with a worldly perspective, our eyes closed to the spiritual realm beautifully revealed before us. We hear lies from the enemy, and begin to see them as truths. Our ears forget to listen when our mouths are so quick to speak. We lack understanding and peace in our hearts because they’ve hardened, whereas God desires a broken and contrite heart humbled before Him (Psalm 51:17).
Verse 27 concludes with, “I (The Holy Spirit) should heal them.” When we go to the Lord with ears, eyes, minds, hearts, and spirits open to His great power and sovereignty, we receive healing.
This week, check your hearing. Spend time talking to the Lord, and listening. You might not hear what you want or expect, but our God is so much bigger than the box we often put Him in with our expectations and worldly plans.
Check your eyesight, too. Are you willingly shutting your eyes to a path the Lord is obviously leading you down? Maybe it’s scary, it often is, but do not forget (this is some of the best encouragement I’ve ever received, even though its simple): God equips you where He calls you.
Finally, check the posture of your heart, mind, and spirit. Is your heart hard or is it open, broken, and contrite before the Lord? Are you overwhelmed or distracted?
Take time to reflect.