March 24, 1998
A city restaurant offers lunch free if customers have to wait longer than 10 minutes from the time they order to the time it is on their table. We sat with friends discussing the difficulty of waiting. Everyone seems to be time-oriented, busy, always rushing, and increasingly impatient.
One person at the table told a story about a man standing in a slow-moving lineup at his bank. He shuffled from one foot to the other, seething inside. The tellers were pitifully slow. Even the customers seemed to take their time moving ahead when it was their turn. Then he noticed a small sign on the counter: “For every 5 minutes you wait in line, we will put $5 in your account.”
Suddenly he viewed waiting from a different perspective. He relaxed. Slowness was no longer an issue. He even found himself mentally saying “take your time” to both tellers and customers. It was to his advantage that they dawdled.
A different perspective can change our response to other ways of waiting. Waiting on God is one of them. Sometimes we are anxious for His answer to our prayers, for Him to change our circumstances. We feel less anxiety when we look at His view of our problems.
For instance, James 1 tells us to “consider it pure joy when we face trials.” At first read, that is ridiculous statement. Who can face trials with any kind of positive reaction, never mind “pure joy”? But we must not let this strange command make us think God does not care. He has a greater plan in mind than simply giving us relief. James goes on to say trials are His tool to test our faith and produce perseverance. He says if perseverance does its work in us, we will be mature (like Christ) and not lack anything. Therefore, if we can keep His end result in mind, we can face trials as opportunities for our good and even be glad they are happening.
God challenged me when we decided to have my aging parents live in our home. My gifts lie in teaching and although I love my parents, serving them with compassion would be a trial. As my frustrations grew, I prayed asking God why He wanted this for me. His response came quietly to my conscience: “I am using this to make you a better teacher.” After seeing His perspective, it was much easier to cooperate with Him.
Another example that ties with the hurried, impatient pace of current life is the importance of spending time with God. Caught up in hectic doing, many Christians find it difficult to stop and pray or read their Bible. We say we don’t have the time, yet in our hurrying we find ourselves stressed and even exhausted.
The prophet Isaiah offers this: “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but they who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Waiting on God means not fretting about life but allowing Him to care for us. To do that, we need to spend time in His Word, learning about His faithfulness and reminding ourselves who He is and how great He is. As we do that, we can face trials with a different vantage point — His.
Spending time with God helps us see our circumstances as part of His plan, not something unfair or meaningless. Waiting on God also helps us find our strength in Him and not in our own resources. Knowing He is in control and that he loves us gives us a sense of peace and renews our energy.
Bank line-ups or impatience for food in a restaurant are small trials but for even these, we can focus our thoughts on the care and purposes of God. The renewal He gives will mean far more to us than a free lunch or an extra few dollars in our account.
Showing posts with label perspective. Show all posts
Showing posts with label perspective. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 17, 2017
Friday, July 25, 2014
How can ‘bad’ be ‘good’? .................. Parables 148
English teachers, cross-word puzzle buffs, and anyone who takes notice of words is perplexed, even annoyed, at twists in current language usage. “Cool” means anything but “cold” and “fat chance” and “slim chance” both mean the same thing. Even “bad” now means “good!”
Sometimes I hear my family use words that don’t seem to fit their context but when I ask what they mean, I discover they are “right on” and I am “out-of-date.” I’ve also discovered that dictionary publishers have large research staffs dedicated to the study of current word usage, which in turn dictates the meaning that is put into the next dictionary. Word meanings fluctuate according to time and culture. Just a subtle change in how, when, or why any word is said, can begin a trend leading to a new edition of Websters. Keeping current is a challenge.
This constant flux in meanings is not a new phenomena. In fact, it is as old as the Bible. Words used in Scripture must be studied with some of the above criteria in mind. Bible students sometimes interpret scripture with present word usage, failing to research how the word was used when Scripture was written. Little wonder people differ in their interpretation of the Bible!
For example, sometimes ‘bad” means “good” depending on one’s perspective. More precisely, some things we avoid as ‘bad” may be very important for us to experience, yet some things we think of as “good” might not be “good” according to God. Apply that to the or difficulties in life. The New Testament calls them trials. We call them anything from nuisances to calamities, and we certainly don’t rub our hands in happy anticipation when we see trouble coming. But God says we should. In fact, we are to “consider it pure joy” when we have trials, and the person enduring trials is blessed! (See James, chapter 1). According to God’s definition, trials test our faith and develop our character. They are part of a Christians preparation for eternity. Therefore what we call “bad,” God says can be “good,” especially from an eternal perspective.
One thing to note, “considering the trial pure joy” does not mean putting on a smile and tying to pretend pain does not exist. God acknowledges our pain. However, the Lord may not intervene and remove it. Instead, He may opt to leave it there and use it for His eternal purpose. In any case, He makes the outcome “good.” In other words, we don’t so much re-write the dictionary definition of “bad” or “good” as we re-work our responses according to faith.
Christ set the example. The Bible says that He endured His most severe trial by “entrusting Himself to the Father.” He was more concerned with eternal purpose than temporary comfort. If we are going to be joyful in trials, we also must trust the Lord, no matter what happens. He promises to work all things, even the “bad” together for “good” in our lives (Romans 8:28).
Nearly anyone can display joy when they are comfortable, but when life hands us lemons, what we do with them will reveal what we consider “good” or “bad.” An angry, negative, resentful response is the average view of a lemon. It is a sour thing, but if Jesus is there, we can have the same responses to life’s lemons as He did because His power is available to us. He supplies the sweetener and we can make lemonade!
The anticipation that God will bring good from a tough situation can keep our focus on the promised outcome, not on the painful or unpleasant aspect of that situation. Anticipation comes from sure knowledge of who He is, recognition of His mighty power, and total trust in Him. Words and the way they are used will change with the times, but when we read the Word of God, with faith, “bad” really can be “good.”
Sometimes I hear my family use words that don’t seem to fit their context but when I ask what they mean, I discover they are “right on” and I am “out-of-date.” I’ve also discovered that dictionary publishers have large research staffs dedicated to the study of current word usage, which in turn dictates the meaning that is put into the next dictionary. Word meanings fluctuate according to time and culture. Just a subtle change in how, when, or why any word is said, can begin a trend leading to a new edition of Websters. Keeping current is a challenge.
This constant flux in meanings is not a new phenomena. In fact, it is as old as the Bible. Words used in Scripture must be studied with some of the above criteria in mind. Bible students sometimes interpret scripture with present word usage, failing to research how the word was used when Scripture was written. Little wonder people differ in their interpretation of the Bible!
For example, sometimes ‘bad” means “good” depending on one’s perspective. More precisely, some things we avoid as ‘bad” may be very important for us to experience, yet some things we think of as “good” might not be “good” according to God. Apply that to the or difficulties in life. The New Testament calls them trials. We call them anything from nuisances to calamities, and we certainly don’t rub our hands in happy anticipation when we see trouble coming. But God says we should. In fact, we are to “consider it pure joy” when we have trials, and the person enduring trials is blessed! (See James, chapter 1). According to God’s definition, trials test our faith and develop our character. They are part of a Christians preparation for eternity. Therefore what we call “bad,” God says can be “good,” especially from an eternal perspective.
One thing to note, “considering the trial pure joy” does not mean putting on a smile and tying to pretend pain does not exist. God acknowledges our pain. However, the Lord may not intervene and remove it. Instead, He may opt to leave it there and use it for His eternal purpose. In any case, He makes the outcome “good.” In other words, we don’t so much re-write the dictionary definition of “bad” or “good” as we re-work our responses according to faith.
Christ set the example. The Bible says that He endured His most severe trial by “entrusting Himself to the Father.” He was more concerned with eternal purpose than temporary comfort. If we are going to be joyful in trials, we also must trust the Lord, no matter what happens. He promises to work all things, even the “bad” together for “good” in our lives (Romans 8:28).
Nearly anyone can display joy when they are comfortable, but when life hands us lemons, what we do with them will reveal what we consider “good” or “bad.” An angry, negative, resentful response is the average view of a lemon. It is a sour thing, but if Jesus is there, we can have the same responses to life’s lemons as He did because His power is available to us. He supplies the sweetener and we can make lemonade!
The anticipation that God will bring good from a tough situation can keep our focus on the promised outcome, not on the painful or unpleasant aspect of that situation. Anticipation comes from sure knowledge of who He is, recognition of His mighty power, and total trust in Him. Words and the way they are used will change with the times, but when we read the Word of God, with faith, “bad” really can be “good.”
Monday, May 26, 2014
Concept of God ........................ Parables 122
When I was five, my mom could do the most amazing things. She could hold a hot hard-boiled egg in her bare hands or knit a sweater. I couldn’t do that. And my father could repair my bridle reins or make a sling shot. I couldn’t do that. I thought those things were impossible.
But I changed. When I was twenty-five, my small children looked on with open mouths when I picked up hot hard-boiled eggs, knit sweaters, made them a sling shot or even mended harness. And now they have changed - they can do things they once thought only dad or mom could do.
What seems so far beyond a child’s mind changes when they have an adult’s perspective. It’s the same in the family of God. When I was a new Christian, a babe in my faith, I read that my Heavenly Father could “do exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or even think . . . ” (Eph. 3:20).
This verse had about the same impact on me as a five-year-old watching dad do the impossible. I thought God would answer my little prayers with big answers, blowing me away with His skill, wisdom, and especially His generosity. I believed He would take my dreams and expand them in glorious technicolor on a giant screen. So I began praying for many things that a typical spoiled child might pray for . . . and God graciously responded - sometimes.
After a while, I realized that He was not the “genie” that I thought; I didn’t pull His strings. There were many things I wanted that He would not let me have. I even thought for a time that God, instead of being able to do more than I could ask, didn’t even care about my requests.
Then I began to grow up. From His Word, I saw that He never changes - but He wanted me to change. He is all-powerful; there is nothing too hard for Him; nothing o no one can stop whatever he determines to do - but there were many things I couldn’t do. Now that I belonged to Him, He could and did stop me, especially when I tried to thwart His purposes in childish rebellion. Like pushing on a mountain, I couldn’t budge Him an inch.
The Bible also says that God knows everything - the number of hairs on my head, my every move, my thoughts and my words before I even say them, and all my needs. The palmist says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me!” I agree, and now I see that his knowledge is part of what it is that enables Him to do abundantly above what I ask or think.
God wasn’t about to reward my selfish view of Him as an indulgent Father. He didn’t say “no” to my grand schemes because He wasn’t able to fulfill them, nor had He changed His style since the bible was written. He can still do whatever He likes. It was just that he knows what I don’t know. So often what I requested was simply not good for me.
I learned that “doing abundantly above all that I ask or think” means more than bigger and better answers to my small prayers. God doesn’t simply add on to my ideas and expand them. Instead, He gives the very best answers. His responses promote inner peace, lasting joy, Christ-likeness, and my greatest eternal good. My childish ideas would not do those things.
I also had to learn that His answers bring Him glory. They are not designed primarily to give me temporary personal pleasure but to reveal His nature and to draw me to Him in praise and worship. My childish ideas may have brought me some glory, but not the Lord.
As I grew, the Lord did not change. Instead, He has altered my perspective and motivation. I will never be able to do what he can do, but my prayers are different from they used to be. Besides, His ideas work “abundantly above all I can ask or think” anyway.
But I changed. When I was twenty-five, my small children looked on with open mouths when I picked up hot hard-boiled eggs, knit sweaters, made them a sling shot or even mended harness. And now they have changed - they can do things they once thought only dad or mom could do.
What seems so far beyond a child’s mind changes when they have an adult’s perspective. It’s the same in the family of God. When I was a new Christian, a babe in my faith, I read that my Heavenly Father could “do exceeding abundantly above all that we could ask or even think . . . ” (Eph. 3:20).
This verse had about the same impact on me as a five-year-old watching dad do the impossible. I thought God would answer my little prayers with big answers, blowing me away with His skill, wisdom, and especially His generosity. I believed He would take my dreams and expand them in glorious technicolor on a giant screen. So I began praying for many things that a typical spoiled child might pray for . . . and God graciously responded - sometimes.
After a while, I realized that He was not the “genie” that I thought; I didn’t pull His strings. There were many things I wanted that He would not let me have. I even thought for a time that God, instead of being able to do more than I could ask, didn’t even care about my requests.
Then I began to grow up. From His Word, I saw that He never changes - but He wanted me to change. He is all-powerful; there is nothing too hard for Him; nothing o no one can stop whatever he determines to do - but there were many things I couldn’t do. Now that I belonged to Him, He could and did stop me, especially when I tried to thwart His purposes in childish rebellion. Like pushing on a mountain, I couldn’t budge Him an inch.
The Bible also says that God knows everything - the number of hairs on my head, my every move, my thoughts and my words before I even say them, and all my needs. The palmist says, “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me!” I agree, and now I see that his knowledge is part of what it is that enables Him to do abundantly above what I ask or think.
God wasn’t about to reward my selfish view of Him as an indulgent Father. He didn’t say “no” to my grand schemes because He wasn’t able to fulfill them, nor had He changed His style since the bible was written. He can still do whatever He likes. It was just that he knows what I don’t know. So often what I requested was simply not good for me.
I learned that “doing abundantly above all that I ask or think” means more than bigger and better answers to my small prayers. God doesn’t simply add on to my ideas and expand them. Instead, He gives the very best answers. His responses promote inner peace, lasting joy, Christ-likeness, and my greatest eternal good. My childish ideas would not do those things.
I also had to learn that His answers bring Him glory. They are not designed primarily to give me temporary personal pleasure but to reveal His nature and to draw me to Him in praise and worship. My childish ideas may have brought me some glory, but not the Lord.
As I grew, the Lord did not change. Instead, He has altered my perspective and motivation. I will never be able to do what he can do, but my prayers are different from they used to be. Besides, His ideas work “abundantly above all I can ask or think” anyway.
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