What do you see?

Don’t you love presidential election years? If you’re like me you’ll be glad when Nov. 5th finally gets here; it will all be over. Both candidates claim to be the candidate for change, and both have “view” of what needs to be fixed and how to fix it. In short, they each have their view of reality…

I’ve often wondered; how can two people see the same thing and walk away with totally opposite conclusions? It’s both a mystery and a common occurrence.

If this is true in politics how much more true is it of real life? In many ways we too live in dual realities; how we view ourselves verses how God views us. It has been my experience that these two “views” are often light-years apart. I suppose there are many reason why this cavernous image difference exists, but what’s most important is how we bring these opposite view together.

Okay, being the simpleton that I am, it boils down to an issue of trust. Whose view of me should I trust; my own, or God’s? Since my view of self is so often influenced by what others think, I choose to live in God’s view and seek to become what he sees in me. This, my friends, takes all the pressure off.

Check it out:

Genesis 1:27

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Whose image do you bear?


2 Corinthians 5:21

God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Note: parenthesis mine

What is God’s view of you?


2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect[a] the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

What are we being transformed back into?
What does God see when he looks at you?



Go in peace and walk daily in His image of you…


Ron

Compassion Rules! Live your Life...

Spiritual Dyslexia...

Dyslectic; the impaired ability to comprehend written words usually associated with a neurological disorder that often manifests itself in the way a person process written material (free online dictionary)…

There are numerous people who wrestle with dyslexia; Oprah being among the most well known. They tell stories of the inability to process written words in an order that helps them comprehend intended meaning. In other words, dyslexia is the tendency to process last things first and it’s a real struggle.

Spiritual Dyslexia; the impaired ability to comprehend first things first as it relates to living what can best be describes a Kingdom life (Ron’s dictionary of words he makes up as he goes along).

There are numerous Christ-followers who regularly wrestle spiritual dyslexia; me being among the most obscure. We tell stories of the inability at times to make sense of life and comprehend what’s going on around us. We wonder why we get thrown curve balls that at first seem to make no sense at all. We tend to interpret life through the grid of the here and now. We want answers and solutions. We’re uncomfortable with the “silence” (lack of response) in our prayer lives and we’re confused when God seems so distant; we interpret it as uncaring. Usually the last thing we do is turn to God and just surrender “it” to him.

It’s a common malady really – it’s the human condition.

After an extended talk about material world issues (e.g. food, clothing, finances and religious activity) Jesus says something that gets to the heart of the issue and speaks directly to those of us who wrestle with spiritual dyslexia.

Matthew 6:33

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (NIV); Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (New Living Translation); Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met (the Message).

Questions I ask myself:

• What is it that I seek first?
• What is my default position?
• When facing a crisis what is the first thing that comes to my mind?
• When faced with a huge decision what is the fist thing that I do?
• When I get up in the morning what is the first thing that occupies my time and energy?

As I traverse the day and stand toe to toe with real life who/what is it that guides my motives, my thoughts, my desires, my intentions, my attitude, and my outlook toward others?

Over the years I have discovered that when I manage to keep first things first the “silence” mentioned earlier is not as much of an issue. On those occasional days when the answer to the above questions is Jesus there is “rest” in knowing that regardless of whatever I’m facing He is still the sovereign ruler of it all (I know, it’s seems like such a simple “Sunday School” answer).

Last week I was reminded of the words in an old hymn, “This is my Father’s world and let me never forget that though the wrong seems oft so strong God’s still the ruler yet.”

It’s hard to explain, but there is a (shalom) peace in keeping first things first, but if you need more convincing then read Romans 8:35-39…

Peace...

Ron

Compassion Rules! Live your Life...