In Praise of Insight
Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
Mark 6:51-52
I recently came upon a fascinating piece of trivia. You blink 25 times every minute. Each blink takes you about 1/5 of a second. Therefore, if you take a ten-hour automobile trip, averaging 40 miles per hour, you will drive 20 miles with your eyes closed.
Want to hear an even more surprising fact? Some people go through much of their life with their eyes closed. They look but don’t really “see.” They observe but don’t really comprehend.
Vision is present but perception is absent. The dimensions that concern them are length and width, not depth.
Please understand me here. I do not mean to be critical of those who cannot go deeper…but of those who can but won’t.
By way of illustration, consider Jesus’ disciples as recorded in Mark 6. The Savior has just miraculously fed thousands of people with a few loaves and fish. Sending His men away in a boat, He slips off to a quiet place to pray.
A storm breaks upon the sea and the Twelve are filled with terror. He comes to their rescue shortly thereafter, stilling the storm and assuring them that there was no need to be afraid.
That’s the context for the verses above. Note the phrase, “…they had not gained any insight.”
The problem wasn’t that they hadn’t witnessed Jesus’ miraculous power. It was that they hadn’t applied what that displayed to their lives.
Sight hadn’t led to insight.
Hebrews 5 is addressed to a group of disciples who had a similar problem:
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! (Hebrews 5:11-12)
Observation didn’t lead to application. Exposure didn’t lead to action.
I have to wonder how many disciples today have the same problem.
Hours upon hours have been logged under the teaching of the Word, and opportunities to apply those truths have been legion. Yet, as another translation renders the Hebrews text, “you have become dull of hearing.”
Insight – the result of mixing truth with practice – is, sadly, all too rare today. Rather than growing up in the faith, many people simply grow old in the faith. Instead of getting to the point where they can be teachers they are content to continue on as listeners.
Insight – the result of mixing truth with practice – is, sadly, all too rare today. Rather than growing up in the faith, many people simply grow old in the faith.
Jesus had some strong words of rebuke for His guys. So did the writer of the book of Hebrews. Maybe it’s high time that we took seriously the call to maturity that reflects insight.
So this week don’t merely listen to the truth – apply it. Don’t simply read the text – act on it.
Don’t merely listen to the truth – apply it. Don’t simply read the text – act on it.
There’s a lot of difference between necessary blinking and unnecessary blindness.
PRAYER
Lord, I have to confess that I’ve been exposed to a lot of truth. Yet I have not acted on it. Help me to see that Your words to me aren’t simply to fill my ears – they are to result in action taken.
Devotionals for Every Day Disciples is brought to you by our partners.
To support Dave DeSelm Ministries by becoming a partner, CLICK HERE.