08102019 God Sees You

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings to all of you who are scattered in so many different places around the world! Do you realize there are missionaries serving in countries that the average person has never heard of? Even in better-known countries or in the USA itself, countless numbers of God's servants are relatively unnoticed. Many times the specific avenues of service are unseen by men. But God always sees!

I was recently noticing a contrast in Job 23. Job speaks some difficult words out of a heart of pain. "Oh that I knew where I might find him! ... Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him" (vs. 3,8-9). Job couldn't see God, and this troubled him greatly.

Then comes verse 10: "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." If God knew Job's path, do you realize what that means? It means that God saw Job. The failure of vision was completely one-sided. Job didn't see God, but God saw him!

God always sees. Nothing escapes His gaze. "For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven" (Job 28:24). "For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings" (Job 34:21). There is never a time that you are out of God's sight, never a time when you are too insignificant for Him to notice. In fact, God sees every tiny sparrow that falls to the ground (Matthew 10:29), and He uses that truth to reinforce that He sees us so much more than a tiny bird.

God sees every need and struggle. He saw Hagar when she was forced to flee, so that Hagar "called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me" (Genesis 16:13). God's rescue of Israel was because He saw them in their Egyptian bondage. God saw the blood that the Israelites put on the doorposts. God saw them trapped by the Red Sea. He saw them when they had no food or water. He saw them when enemies attacked. Jesus "saw [the disciples] toiling in rowing" in the midst of the storm, even though He was not with them (Mark 6:48). The psalmist was right. "When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path" (Psalm 142:3).

God sees people that He desires to use and bless, even when no one else recognizes their value or potential. God sees the very heart of man - his deepest motivations, desires, and passions (I Samuel 16:7). God saw Gideon when he was hiding in a winepress. God saw Hannah when she was barren. God saw David in the shepherd's fields. God saw the widow of Zarephath who was down to her last meal but who would feed His servant. Jesus saw Nathanael when he was sitting under a fig tree (John 1:48).

God sees your service, no matter how small or misunderstood. He sees your gifts to Him when no one else appreciates or notices. Jesus saw the poor widow who was offering God her two mites (Luke 21:2). God sees spiritual devotion and service that no one else sees.  "Thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly" (Matthew 6:4,6,18).

You are never unnoticed, never forsaken, never overlooked, never belittled in your service. God sees you always, even when you may struggle to see Him. He sees your sorrows and trials, your struggles and loneliness. God sees the challenges of ministry, the doors He will open before you, and He sees every bit of your service to Him. What you do today matters for eternity, and if no one else is aware of what you do, God sees. So in your place of service, wherever that may be or whatever form it may take, continue faithfully on. There is One who sees you, cares for you, and receives your gifts of service.

Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
www.pressingontohigherground.blogspot.com