WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
APRIL 30, 2023
TOPIC: YOU ARE THE APPLE OF GOD’S EYE
BY T. O. BANSO
“For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye’” (Zechariah 2:8 New King James Version).
Every child of God is the apple of His eye. In other words, every child of God is dear or precious to Him. Notwithstanding what he is going through, either as consequences of sins or mistakes or as part of the trials of faith, God cares for His children. He loves His children eternally. This is very important as because of the negative experiences children of God pass through, they, sometimes, could doubt God’s love for them. They might think that, probably, He doesn’t care for them.
The LORD used the Babylonians to plunder Jerusalem although they didn’t know that God used them. Judah was carried into captivity. Nevertheless, that didn’t mean that God stopped caring for them. He loved them despite their situation.
Zechariah 2:8 says, “For thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye’” (New King James Version). The New Living Translation uses the phrase “my most precious possession” for “the apple of His eye.” “After a period of glory, the LORD Almighty sent me against the nations who oppressed you. For he said, ‘Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession’” (Zechariah 2:8 New Living Translation).
The apple of His eye refers to the pupil of His eye. Another translation puts Zechariah 2:8 thus: “For the Lord who rules over all says to me that for his own glory he has sent me to the nations that plundered you – for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of his eye” (Zechariah 2:8 The New English Translation Bible).
The first use of the phrase “the apple of his eye” in the Bible is in Deuteronomy 32:10: “He found him in a desert land And in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye”(New King James Version). This scripture is talking about God’s protective care for the Israelites.
God loves the Israelites because of His covenant with them. He chose them above all the nations of the earth. “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth” (Deuteronomy 7:6 New King James Version).
Deuteronomy 14:2 says a similar thing: “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples who are on the face of the earth” (New King James Version). Although God used other nations to punish the Israelites at different times because of their disobedience, the height of it was allowing them to go into exile. Nevertheless, He didn’t cease loving them. God said they were the apple or pupil of His eye. They were important to Him just as the eye is important to a human being and he will jealously protect it against any particle.
The same thing is true of those who believe in Jesus Christ. We are the apple or pupil of God’s eye. We are precious to Him. Even the Bible says the death of the saints is precious in the sight of the (Psalm 116:15). No matter what you are going through, know that you are the apple of God’s eye. He will protect you because nothing can stop Him from loving you.
Romans 8:35-37 says, “Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, ‘For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.’) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us” (New Living Translation).
Immediately after saying that the Israelites were the apple of His eye, God continued in Zechariah 2:9: “For surely I will shake My hand against them, and they shall become spoil for their servants. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me” (New King James Version). God promised to inflict vengeance on the enemies of His people.
The Jews, who had been plundered, would plunder the nations that plundered them. The Babylonian Empire was eventually overthrown, and the Israelites were able to return to their homeland. However, this scripture could also be prophetic with regard to the future deliverance of Jerusalem by the Messiah. Verse 10 says, “‘Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst,’ says the LORD” (New King James Version).
You are the apple of God’s eye. Your negative experiences don’t mean you have no value before God. You’re God’s most precious possession. God’s discipline of His children doesn’t mean hatred or rejection. “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son” (Hebrews 12:5b-6 New King James Version).
God will discipline His children but He’ll never forsake them. He’ll plunder those who plunder you, fight those who fight you, bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you. He told Abraham, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3 New King James Version).
Don’t maltreat or oppress anyone, especially a child of God. Saul of Tarsus was persecuting the believers, but Jesus told him he was actually persecuting Him. “And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ Then the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads’” (Acts 9:5 New King James Version). Paul (formerly Saul) eventually became a Christian. He explained later that he did all he did as a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent in ignorance and unbelief (1 Timothy 1:13).
Never forget that you are the apple of God’s eye. You are important to Him and He will protect you. Whoever touches you touches the apple of His eye. God will take care of you. 1 Peter 5:7 says to cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. Also, Psalm 55:22 says to cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall. Furthermore, God says in Isaiah 46:4, “Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you” (New International Version).
Don’t let your negative life experiences devalue you. Your troubles or victories do not determine your value. God loves you; He chose you. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9-10 New King James Version).
If you’ve rebelled against God, repent now, ask for forgiveness, and return to Him. If you are not yet a child of God, come into a living relationship with Him today through Jesus Christ.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit that you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and God raised Him on the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like a palm tree and grow like a cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, thank You for making me the apple of Your eye. I am grateful to You for loving me eternally. Nothing can separate me from the love God has for me. Holy Spirit, help me to walk in the understanding that I am the apple of God’s eye and God will always take care of me.
(For over 900 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T. O. Banso is the President of Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
