Perspective
I read a book the other day that really got me thinking about my life and what God wants FROM me and FOR me. I summed it up with these words, “If my vision is limited by what I can actually accomplish on my own, I am robbing myself of the divine opportunity for God to move mountains on my behalf.”
As I ponder these words, it challenges how I view every opportunity before me. Do I have faith that says there is NO way I can do this, but God can? Or do I punk out because there is NO way? The reality of the situation remains the same, but the way I view it and respond to it changes everything!
All of the “power words” in the Bible come with a price. Things such as patience, grace and boldness only come through living out the journey. They have to be tested and proven. Reading stories about Bible Heroes we see that those that are worthy of being called a hero had to go through trial and suffering before they were considered great. No one just showed up on the scene with boldness and grace and saved the day with their super cape flying behind them. These people suffered! We never hear THAT as an exciting sermon. We get to SUFFER for Christ…woo-hoo!! Talk about an attendance drop the next week, try preaching that truth loudly. But the truth is if we are going to be great, we will suffer. There is no shortcut to greatness. This is why so few ever attain it and even fewer actually WANT to try.
As I look at the world around me, selfishness is not only the status quo, it is made out to be every person’s RIGHT. Take care of number one at any cost. I don’t see that lesson anywhere in the Bible. In fact, it is the anti-message that Christ came to share. He gave Himself completely for us. He didn’t say, “I don’t want to be persecuted today. Let someone else do it.” We would not be here at all if Jesus decided to look out for number one. No. His priority was to lay down His life and make us number one. How can I do anything less?
If it is within my ability to help someone in need and I choose not to “get involved” because of the inconvenience to my schedule, I am not truly showing Christ’s love to a dying world. How many times have I missed these opportunities because I refuse to see through the eyes of Christ? Too many times…
Living this out loud, being real, walking out my faith… those are power phrases too. They come with a price. That price is my time, my talent, my pride; whatever it takes to lay down my life so someone else can know His love in theirs.
Lord, change my vision. Help me see through Your eyes. Remove all excuses and as I suffer for You, help me do so with an attitude of worship. Not so I will achieve greatness, but so I will truly understand Your will for my life.