WATCH OUT FOR SPIRITUAL BLIND SPOTS

“So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.” – 1 John 1:6-8.

We all know blind spots are dangerous when we’re changing lanes at 70 mph on an interstate highway. There can be danger around us that we don’t even see, but technology is working to solve that problem.  Intelligent Blind Spot Intervention (I-BSI) assists the driver in avoiding a collision when changing lanes by detecting vehicles in the blind spot. Spiritual blind spots block us from seeing the truth about ourselves and others and there is no technology that solves that problem.

Can you identify your blind spots? We all have them, and they can be so hard to see. They can take different forms. Blind spots may be spiritual and block our relationship with God. They may be relational and block our relationships with others. These spots can be hard to see, because by definition, are invisible to us. The good news is that whatever type of blind spot you have, God will help you remove it.

The bad news is that minimizing, ignoring, or denying our blind spots comes naturally to most of us. We need God, scripture, and others to illuminate those blind spots. Jesus, the “visible image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), is the perfect image of a human without any blind spots. Because He is also fully God, He understands the devastating and deadly consequences of blind spots. Jesus is, therefore, our most reliable friend, redeemer, and guide.

The Bible is like no other book. It is practical and helpful in identifying, exposing, and assisting us in the elimination of our blind spots. Its words possess the power to transform our lives. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12).

Just like technology can help us identify a dangerous blind spot while driving, a trusted friend can do the same for our lives. Gene Edwards, in his book, The Inward Journey, says this, “There are always a few hidden flaws in each of us, flaws so well hidden we don’t know we have them. (Usually our brothers and sisters know, though.) We can’t see our flaws. Others can. Having a community of people who know us intimately, love us regardless and are willing to be completely honest with us about our blind spots is crucial in recognizing and removing blind spots.”

Because we are often blind to our own faults, we need to be thankful for friends who care enough to bring our faults to our attention and are courageous enough to challenge our conduct. And we need to be that kind of friend to others.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is one spiritual blind spot in your life? 
2. What can you do this week to overcome that?