Vision
I keep procrastinating when it comes to cataract removal surgery. More than 10 years bave passed since my ophthalmologist in California mentioned I was developing them. As his comments were so casually made, until we moved to Northern Kentucky, I passed them off. However, this year my 94-year-old Mom had such surgery, so I don't think I will put mine off much longer. But that's not the kind of vision I have in mind here.
No, I am thinking of other kinds of vision. It is all too easy to see unbelievers prosper and to be envious of them. The Psalmist Asaph had this problem in Psalm 73:
"Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart! But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped, for I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (verses 1-3). In verses 4-12, he expands on what he saw regarding the easy life of the wicked. He compares himself to them: "Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence; for I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning" (verses `13-14).
Beginning with verse 15, he pivots: "If I had said, 'I will speak thus,' behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end" (verses 15-17).
Confessing his new understanding in verses 18-24, Asaph concludes thus:
"Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works" (verses 26-28).
The writer of Hebrews admonishes us in 12:1-3: "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us [referring back to chapter 11], let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
These passages both challenge and encourage me to see situations from God's point of view rather than from a merely human perspective. I hope they do the same for you.
No, I am thinking of other kinds of vision. It is all too easy to see unbelievers prosper and to be envious of them. The Psalmist Asaph had this problem in Psalm 73:
"Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart! But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped, for I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (verses 1-3). In verses 4-12, he expands on what he saw regarding the easy life of the wicked. He compares himself to them: "Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence; for I have been stricken all day long and chastened every morning" (verses `13-14).
Beginning with verse 15, he pivots: "If I had said, 'I will speak thus,' behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children. When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end" (verses 15-17).
Confessing his new understanding in verses 18-24, Asaph concludes thus:
"Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You. But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works" (verses 26-28).
The writer of Hebrews admonishes us in 12:1-3: "Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us [referring back to chapter 11], let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
These passages both challenge and encourage me to see situations from God's point of view rather than from a merely human perspective. I hope they do the same for you.
posted by Ebeth | 8:42 AM
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