The Apple of God’s Eye

If you say something offensive about me or my kids or a friend I’m usually able to curb my reaction. But if you say something about my wife then you better get ready–because it is on.

Why is that? It’s because the love I have for my wife is different. It’s in a whole separate category than anything else. My wife is the apple of my eye.

The Blazing Center recently had another great post. It reminded me that God, too, does not love everyone the same. There is one category of people that are the apple of his eye. Really. It’s in the Bible:

But the LORD’s portion is his people,
 Jacob his allotted heritage.
 He found him in a desert land,
 and in the howling waste of the wilderness; 
he encircled him, he cared for him,
 he kept him as the apple of his eye.
 –Deuteronomy 32:9-11

For thus said the LORD of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. -Zechariah 2:8

Just think, if we are in the apple of His eye category, then no matter what we are going through today, we can rejoice. Because God is for us. I find this very encouraging when I apply it to myself. But it’s also very challenging when I consider the implications. The two questions at the end test how well I truly understand God’s love . . .

The Apple of God’s Eye, by Mark Altrogge

What does God most delight in after himself?

What brings him more pleasure than all the beauty of the forests and mountains and waterfalls and fields?

What does he care about more than all the art in all the museums, all the books that have ever been written, all the technology and accomplishments of mankind?

His people.

Weak and frail as we are,
 full of foibles,
 doubts and fears—We are his portion. His heritage. His special delight.

He encircles us, cares for us, keeps us as the apple of his eye. Yes, really. We are the apple of his eye. That thing which most delights him. His bride. His beloved. His objects of mercy. His chosen race. His royal priesthood. 

The people for his own possession, the ones he loved with an everlasting love. The ones he is transforming to look like Jesus, act like Jesus, talk like Jesus, and display Jesus to the world.

Is this how you see your church?  Is your church the apple of your eye?