It's All About Perspective

"My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the Lord, "and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

One of the cries of my heart these days is that the Lord would give me His perspective on life. It's taken me a while, but I'm finally understanding that I don't always see things the way they really are. In fact, most of the time I don't see things the way they really are at all. My perspective is often clouded with my sin, my desires, my fears and my weaknesses. I need to see my marriage and my husband the way He sees them. I need to see my children (and my grandchildren) the way He sees them. I need to see my ministry, my calling and my purpose the way He sees them.

If I don't have the Lord's perspective then I will likely make decisions that are not in the best interests of myself, my family, my friends and my ministry. Most of all, I could easily make choices that cause me to miss out on God's best for me.

My husband enjoys watching old westerns on television. From time to time I like to sit down and slide into the "old west" for a few minutes, too. I especially get caught up in the situations where a group of settlers on their way west stop for a brief reprieve at a rugged old fort or an outpost. They often feel secure and protected within the gates of the fort until the young man way up in the look-out tower starts reporting on who is coming in the distance. What they see on the ground is often totally different from what he can see from his perspective. Even though they may feel perfectly safe at the moment, he knows if danger is just over the next hill and moving their way. Because of his position, the look-out guy has a much better understanding or perspective on their situation. If they listen to him, they can be prepared for what is coming.

In the same way, the trusted look-out can see if even beyond the danger that's approaching, the cavalry is pulling up behind them and help is on the way.

The spiritual connection is pretty clear, isn't it? The people within the fort would be pretty foolish to only rely on what they can see to make decisions about their safety and their future. They desperately need to trust someone who sees far beyond what they are capable of seeing.

Ask God for His perspective on your situation. He can see much further ahead than you can and He's on your side.

Jars of Clay

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us."' 2 Corinthians 4:7

2 Corinthians 4:7 is hands down my favorite scripture. Maybe it's because it very honestly reminds me of who I am--nobody. Nobody without the Lord Jesus, of course. I have read that in biblical times homes usually had a number of containers of various sizes, colors and materials. Different occasions called for certain containers. However, the regular clay jar was what one usually had the most of.

If you were expecting special guests you might want to use the more expensive containers from which to serve them. If it were just you and the family, the basic jar of clay would do just fine.

A very interesting note that I picked up on here; someone remarked that oftentimes folks would hide their most precious possessions--perhaps some precious stone or a little bag of coins in one of their many clay pots. It would be unlikely for a thief to think to look in one of the numerous jars of clay for a special treasure. Thus, the unassuming jar of clay often become the vessel that held that which was most valuable. It wasn't the jar that was of lasting value. It was what it contained--a treasure!

The spiritual application is obvious, isn't it? We are the jars of clay. The gift of knowing Christ (the Good News) and his Holy Spirit dwelling in us is the treasure. My Dad always says, "Remember who you are and remember whose you are."

Jars of clay. hmmm. Yeah, I like that.