Today's Reading - Proverbs 7

The Apple of Your Eye

In today’s jargon, the phrase “apple of my eye” means that something or someone is cherished above all others. When a father, for example, has many beloved children, but there is one in particular who is treasured and cherished above the others, that child is considered the “apple of his eye.” There were many beautiful belles at the ball, but only Cinderella was the apple of Prince Charming’s eye – he cherished her above all the others.

Here in Proverbs 7, we are urged to keep the Lord’s teaching as the apple of our eye. Certainly, that means to cherish it and treasure it above all else. There are many reasons to cherish the word of God. It reveals the one true and living God. It comes from our Creator, Himself, who inspired every word. It unveils God’s plan of redemption for humanity. It contains fathomless wisdom and understanding. It tells us how human history will end. It teaches us how to deal with every aspect of our lives. It brings fresh spiritual refreshment to our daily lives. It instructs us how to live righteously before Him. God is truly honored when we cherish Him and His words above all else.

But there’s more to the phrase “apple of my eye” as found in the Bible. The Biblical phrase comes from a Hebrew expression that literally means ‘little man of the eye.’ It refers to the tiny reflection that you can see in other people’s pupils when they are looking directly at someone or something. To be the apple of someone’s eye meant that they were focusing on and watching something so closely that you could see the reflection in their pupils. Thus, ‘apple of your eye’ literally meant to be your singular focus.

Here in this Proverb, we are instructed to keep God’s teaching so central in our view that it is our singular focus – the apple of our eye.  It means focusing on God by remaining focused on His word. Jesus once said those who had believed in Him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.” (John 8:31) What this phrase “truly my disciples” indicates is that there are disciples who are not truly disciples. The word “truly” means “really” — “really my disciples.” In other words, there are real and unreal disciples. There are authentic and inauthentic disciples. There is discipleship that is merely outward, and discipleship that goes down to the root. The difference is in those who “abide” (live under the sway of) His word.

God’s call is for us to be truly His disciples by keeping His teachings as the most cherished and singular focus of our lives. He wants us to avoid being under the sway of worldly wisdom and man’s ideas and to come solely under the sway of His truth. Keep God’s word as your singular focus. Watch it so closely and intently that you can see its reflection in your pupil and in your way of life.