So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from hisperspective.
Colossians 3: 1-2 The Message
“It’s all a matter of perspective.” This common saying contains a great deal of truth. How we view reality is often determined by what angle we are looking at situations. Many of us are shaped by those around us. Sometimes we may even feel the pressure to do what they are doing, and what they tell us we should be doing, rather than trusting in the path the Lord lays in front of us.
The Apostle Paul realized this truth when he wrote to the Colossians. He is almost begging the Colossians to consider more than just the view from Colossae. While not belittling or minimizing their very real concerns, Paul encourages the Colossians to look beyond themselves, and try to see things from Christ’s perspective.
The image Paul presents to us is someone who is walking along, focused only on the ten feet immediately in front of them. As many of you know, Jeana has had numerous surgeries. For her, the fearful thought of falling is never distant. Instead, it can be a constant fear. She feels like she misses seeing things going on around her, because she often looks down when walking. That is a reality, but not what this scripture is ultimately referencing. Here, Paul is encouraging everyone to look beyond themselves and what they “should” be doing. Instead, he wants us look up to Christ.
We are encouraged to “look up”, and to try to see the world from God’s perspective. The Lord wants us to enlarge and expand our vision of the world, coming at subjects with more than just our own personal opinion. We ought to ask ourselves, “What is God’s perspective on this matter?” and “What would Jesus do?”
Sometimes we are tempted to only trust ourselves to make sure things are done right. Yet when we prevent others from participating in sharing God’s work, we exhibit a lack of trust. It is said that there is no “I” in the word “team”. Ministry is not a solo act. This scripture states that we are to look to Christ, and pursue His plan. When we take the focus off of ourselves, and trust in Him, we will have greater peace. We will know, and be assured, that He is in control.
The statement, “let go, and let God '', may feel uncomfortable. One may even think that if they let go, God might not do things exactly how we think they ought to be done! Yet the Lord calls us to look at things from His perspective, for He has a better view than we do.
From an eternal perspective, what really matters the most is the Lord’s guidance, and His true path. Other things which seem important now, will be shown to be of little importance in the long run. In the grand scheme of things, what is pressing and immediate is not always what is most important, or lasting.
The world often ignores small acts of love: that is so often where the real action is! The truth is that since God created our world, He wants to have a relationship with us. Therefore, let us strive to constantly enlarge our view. Don’t be blinded by focusing solely upon what is immediately in front of you. Take the long view of things: God’s view. May God shape and transform us, so that we will grow deeper in our relationship with Him.
Prayer
Lord of all creation,
Far more often than I would like to admit, I am blinded by my own actions and agendas. Sometimes, I cannot see beyond myself. Help me to focus on tuning my ear to You and Your ministry, and not my own plans. Make my heart a fertile field so that when You plant the seeds in my heart, I desire to share them with the community. May the seed You plant grow so that we may all walk with You, seeing the world from Your perspective. I pray this prayer in the name of Your Son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
