Living under God’s eye
Seek the things that are above, where Christ is,
Seated at the right hand of God. Colossians 3:1
Read 1 Kings 22:15-28
Some of this chapter lets me into court intrigues on earth, quite humorous in a way. Now I am invited into an even more unlikely secret: I sit in on an intrigue in heaven itself. It looks as though the poor king of Israel, Ahab, along with his ally Jehoshaphat, are dupes, playthings in the hand of the heavenly powers. But to get the right perspective I need to bring their own intrigue into connection with the intrigue of the heavenly court. When I do that I find that they are willing dupes. They want the spirit of the prophet to lie to them. No sooner have they let the true word from God in than they shut it out again. They have made fools of themselves on earth before I ever get to see their fate in heaven. Surely the whole direction of my prayers must be not for heaven to ratify my silly schemes, but for my earthly schemes to be transformed by heaven, for me and my plans to wait upon the leading of God. Otherwise I am a self-willed fool.
Father, I have lived another day. As though I have been in my own hands all the time. As though I have lived this day only before the eyes of others. Truly, every day of every month of every year of my life your eye is upon me. You know my motives and you are not excluded from my thoughts. I pray that in your great determination to bless me you will frustrate my false ways, disrupt my wayward plans. I pray that I will not succeed when I try to keep you out. Christ has gone to heaven itself for me, into your presence. Therefore let me welcome your way, long for your leading, humbly bow under your correction, and want your kingdom ways in simplicity. Where you are is my true home; who you are, my honour and delight. Let me be pleased that your eye is upon me.