Yesterday, Don and I were waiting for my car to be serviced. We found a game in a magazine where you find ten differences between two pictures. They had several issues to keep us busy, so we got to work on the first one.
On that game, neither of us could find that pesky tenth item. I gave up and turned it over to Don. After looking for a bit longer, he turned the page upside down. Within a few seconds he found it.
All he needed was a different perspective.
Sometimes that’s all we need, too: we need Jesus’ perspective instead of our own human view. In Colossians 3:1-2, Paul tells us how to gain that perspective (three different translations).
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (NIV)
So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective. (The Message)
If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth. (Amplified)
Then Paul tells us what makes this possible in Colossians 3:3 – it’s who we are in Christ.
For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (NIV)
Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. (The Message)
For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God. (Amplified)
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| Can you tell what this is? Too close? |
Are you discouraged by things not going as you planned? Do you need a fresh look at an old circumstance? Maybe you’re too close to a situation; you need to back up and get the big picture from Jesus’ viewpoint.
Fix your eyes on Jesus, and He can show you a different perspective.
Here's an inspiring song by For King & Country, click to listen to Fix My Eyes on Youtube.
Happy Sunday!
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| Still too close for you to identify? Answer coming soon in the comments... |
You are so right, Mary. It is hard to see things from God's perspective from the middle of a difficult circumstance. If we turn things upside down like Don did, perhaps we can see God's perspective. I's not easy to shift our eyes but God can help us.
ReplyDeleteMy eternal perspective keeps getting blurred. I can become so overwhelmed by the problem in front of me that everything else is 'blurred' out. And what I focus on is what gets magnified, so Thank You for the reminder to back up & get the bigger picture, the eternal perspective. I can do this when I spend alone, quiet time with Him on a regular basis (duh Robin). Then He gives me the lens through which I can view a problem/circumstance without losing sight of Him and His good & perfect will for me. RR
ReplyDeleteYes, when we're too close to something or in the middle of it, we need to back up - and look up - to get God's perspective.
ReplyDeleteBTW, in case you didn't figure it out, the picture is my leg - I'm wearing jeans.