A Different Perspective

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT

The Apostle Paul had a different perspective on life than most people. Instead of a bird's eye view, he had a God's eye view. 

Paul was a man who understood suffering and the benefit of it. Yes, the benefit of it! He realized that the results of suffering and hardship wrought a much greater reward of Christ-like character in us when we trust God through it all. Not the least of which are compassion, patience, and understanding. These are things for which we should be grateful. 

James 1:2-4 NLT reads,  "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance [patience] is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing."

Any opportunity to grow in the Lord is cause for "great joy".  Every time our faith is tested, our "endurance has a chance to grow". So, we can focus on the problems, the issues, the tests, the trials, the suffering... or we can have a different perspective. A God's eye view.

Prayer:

Father,

           Help us to not look at the troubles we can see now; but rather, to fix our gaze on the things that cannot be seen. Help us to see things through the Truth and Light of Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Lent - Day Twenty-Three - From Blindness to Sight

 Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2024

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 

John 9:24-27

Our Lord opens blind eyes. His intervention to restore sight to the blind man in today’s reading is miraculous. However, it is just as miraculous that God grants eyes of faith so that we may believe in Christ as Lord. We learn this from the response of the Pharisees who thought that they saw spiritual things perfectly, but could not see their need for a savior. They were blind to their own sin and unwilling to see God’s way of salvation in Jesus Christ. Their refusal to repent kept them in darkness and guilt.

We are conceived and born in that same darkness. But by an act of God, we are delivered from darkness into his marvelous light. While Christ has given us sight and brought us into the light, our sinful flesh still desires the darkness. Like scales slowly growing over our eyes, sin attempts to dim our sight with pride, self-righteousness, impatience, selfishness, or any number of things. Perhaps John was recalling the events of Jesus and the blind man when he wrote these words in his first Epistle: If we walk in the light, as he is in the light we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:7-9) God is light. Through him, we see.

Prayer: 

Dear Lord, 

              Thank You for giving me eyes of faith with which to clearly see my sin as well as Your saving grace. [Yes, I want to be Your disciple] By Your grace, help me to fix my eyes on You as the Author and Finisher of my faith. Amen.

Further Reading - John 9:24-41

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains."

Not By Sight

For we walk by faith, not by sight.
2nd Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

Do you like to be blindfolded? As children, we mash the blindfold against our eyes and our only concern is if they pull our hair while tying the knot. Once the blindfold is on, we get spun around and either try to pin the tail on something or find someone just by hearing them call to us. It's all fun and games and most kids love it.

As adults, it's a different story. Have you ever been to a gathering where one of the icebreaker activities involves a blindfold? Women wear makeup and they're concerned about that - maybe to the point of not participating. Men and women both touch their hair to see how mussed up it might be in the process. I find it particularly interesting to note that those who are normally very boisterous and outgoing become very quiet and still when blindfolded. Have you ever noticed that? What would be your reaction?

It's human nature to want to be able to see where you're going and what's going on. We don't even like it when someone sits in front of us and we can't see over them or around them. We like to be able to see what's coming at us or being thrown at us - whether it's life or a party game.

I once attended a day retreat where one of the exercises was to be blindfolded while standing outside the building. Then one group was led around the property by a friend or spouse and another group was led around by someone they did not know. I watched adults break down and cry and refuse to move. If you'll excuse the pun, it was an eye-opening experience...

It really was all about trust and how well the people in blindfolds knew the ones who were leading them. The people led by someone they didn't know were actually more pulled than led. There was no trust that the one leading them would safely guide them - even in the parking area. Friends leading friends were a little different - they were more led than pulled. Married couples - especially those I knew whose relationships were strong - it was almost as though the one wasn't blindfolded at all.

Relate that to our Christian walk. If we are to walk by faith and not by sight, do we trust the One who is leading us? It's not a matter of CAN we trust Him - God is trustworthy - even if we can't see where He's leading us. It truly is a matter of DO we trust Him? Do we trust Him to get us over - to get us through - to keep us - no matter what? No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in? No matter the trials and the struggles and the rough terrain? Do we trust Him? 

Faith is not about seeing your way clear, it's about knowing God will make a way - even when you can't see how. It's about trusting God even when what you see is NOT what you WANT to see. Do you know Him well enough to walk by faith at His leading and not by sight?

Prayer:

Father,
          You are Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End. You are Almighty, Sovereign, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Creator of the universe. You are our Provider, our Healer, our Deliverer, and Redeemer. You are our Savior who takes our sin-stained lives and makes us holy and righteous unto You. We choose to trust You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen