Have you ever overlooked the obvious? (I thought I lost my car keys coming out of Yankee Stadium once, only to discover they were around my neck on a lanyard the whole time.) 

Have you ever failed to see the consequences of your actions? (On plenty of occasions, I bet! … like driving too fast, preparing too little, eating too much, sleeping too little, talking too much, listening too little. And the list could go on for days and miles!) 

Have you ever thought your good deeds have largely gone unnoticed? (Many times, I suspect!) People often fail to keep score of the good others do. Maybe that’s why UNC Men’s Basketball long ago insisted on having its players acknowledge the assist they received, pointing out the teammate who made the pass that led to their scoring basket.

And isn’t it so funny so frequently that what is obvious to someone is not often so obvious to another? (Like people getting your jokes or sarcasm!)

Jesus reminds us that, “Nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known” (Matthew 10:26 ESV).

All our sin is so obvious to God (and often more obvious to others than we think). Same with our good deeds. Nothing escapes His attention. He doesn’t miss a trick. So let’s not bemoan our lack of recognition or seek to hide any of our sin from Him. 

“He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells with Him” (Daniel 2:22 NIV).

God sees beyond sight and wants to help us do the same. He brings light to many situations in life because He is Light (John 8:12, Psalm 27:1). And Light always reveals. 

He wants the invisible to become obvious. He wants us to see certain things coming ahead of time and know that even what’s not seen, like our good deeds, eventually will be seen.

Diving deeper, God wants us to see that sin always has deep and wide consequences, not just after the fact, but before the fact, and that our faith, obedience and good deeds will bring blessings. This is to become fully obvious to us. 

So take heart. God sees. He sees beyond sight. And He wants us to see beyond sight too. There’s so much He wants to make so obvious to us, for our good and His glory. 

Reflect: Are you struggling to keep your sin hidden from God and others? (That’s a waste of time and energy, you know.) Do you feel your good deeds have largely gone unnoticed lately? 

Since seeing beyond sight is the goal (2 Corinthians 4:18), what new thing does God want you to see in yourself, others, or the world that’s beyond sight? (Ask Him to make something new obvious to you.)

A prayer to consider: Heavenly Father, thank You for every moment where You have shown me the path of life. I need You to keep making sin and good deeds obvious to me, well in advance, please. Keep giving me Your eyes on my matters. 

You really do see, know, care and can flatout coach. That’s become so obvious to me. Help me to live in this confidence by your Spirit and to help others see obviously too. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.