From Ben – 6 March 2016
Did you know that God calls us “the apple of his eye”?
The prophet Zechariah employs this phrase in his word to God’s people who had returned to Jerusalem after their captivity in Babylon. He calls them to repent, to rebuild the temple, and to renew their hearts of love for the true God. For the Lord loves his people greatly; they are the apple of his eye.
Hebrew scholars suggest his phrase from Zechariah 2 denotes one’s reflection in the pupil of another’s eyes, with the word “apple” emerging because it’s a common spherical object. So with eyes being precious and fragile, they need protecting, and that’s how the Lord wants to love and protect his people, by holding them close to his heart.
It is wonderfully comforting to know that we are so highly prized by God that he should call us the apple of his eye. On this international day of the child, I want to suggest from the Scripture that God has a special place in his heart for all small children too. They are so precious to him and we must do all we can to protect, shield and love them too. Pray with me today for all children who are in poverty or resettlement camps or in some place of need today.
Matt 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”