Personal perspectives affect our lives . . .

Years ago, a truck driver asked me to help him with his resume. His back was sore all the time and he needed a new job. He told me “I’m not educated or skilled and my resume is boring.” I asked him many questions about his life, interests, volunteer work and other detail then wrote the resume. He read it and said, “I cannot believe how good I look in this — yet everything is true!”

Some people belittle their accomplishments. Others make assumptions about the lives of other people. If a person does not tell others what they do, they are often pegged as people who don’t do much. A couple years ago a new friend came to my home for a visit. She liked my art, quilts and other creative projects and said, “I’m amazed. I thought you were just an ordinary person.” Despite her new opinion, I told her she was right — I am just an ordinary person.

That incident helped me take greater notice of others and my understanding has deepened — there are no ordinary people. Everyone has a story, a skill, a something that is significant. Most don’t want to boast or do not even recognize their own uniqueness. In some cases, those around them do not want to recognize it either.

And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.

And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief . . .  (Mark 6:2–6)

Jesus was in His hometown of Nazareth. The people knew Him as part of a local family. To them, He was nothing special growing up before them, so why now is He teaching in the synagogue? What right does He have to do this? They were offended by this ‘ordinary’ person and He was amazed at their rejection.

This part of Mark’s Gospel happened during Jesus’ second visit to Galilee. He’d been there once, performed miracles and told parables. They saw and heard Him yet they were confused. How could an ordinary person, at least ordinary in their mind, do what He was doing?

This narrative about Jesus’ life makes me think of roadblocks created by the opinions of others. If a person is bothered by them, it will affect their lives. In this case, when these people rejected Jesus, He didn’t do any “mighty work” there. His ministry was limited because of their perception of Him.

My truck driver friend had similar limitations but not for the same reasons. His perception of himself kept him from applying for jobs that He was qualified for. He needed to see himself differently. My relationships with people are also affected by what they assume about me. Some assumptions are based on observation, an ordinary childhood, mistakes made, and maybe an unfair evaluation that thinks people are special only if they are exceptional in something, child prodigies, or have double PhDs or a wall full of ribbons.

Jesus was amazed at the way people responded to Him. He who is without sin would not have that notion that ‘ordinary’ people could be useless, boring, or without skill. Instead, He saw the full person, sinful yet created in the image of God and full of potential. All they needed was redemption and the Holy Spirit and they would be able to do anything.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)

^^^^^^^^^^^

Lord, grant me the ability to see people like You see us, realizing the sin that ruins lives but also aware of the great potential that others have because of Your grace and power. Help me be a supporter and an encourager. Give me ideas and ways to bring out the best in others . . . as You do!

God promotes happy marriages

Numbers 30:1–16, 1 Corinthians 12:12–13:13, Psalm 25:1–22

Criticism of gender bias in the Bible usually happens when the critic does not know how badly women were treated in ancient times, or how God worked redemptively to bring change to the gender wars. Even the OT commands concerning men and women can be viewed from different perspectives. Consider the following example . . .

Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the people of Israel saying, “This is what the Lord has commanded. If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.” (Numbers 30:1–2)

It was not the same for a woman. If she made a vow, she had to keep it, unless . . .  “her father opposes her on the day that he hears of it, no vow of hers, no pledge by which she has bound herself shall stand. And the Lord will forgive her, because her father opposed her . . . . Any vow and any binding oath to afflict herself, her husband may establish, or her husband may make void. But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he establishes all her vows or all her pledges that are upon her. He has established them, because he said nothing to her on the day that he heard of them. But if he makes them null and void after he has heard of them, then he shall bear her iniquity.” (Numbers 30:5; 13–15)

Obviously the regulations concerning vows were different for a man and a woman. However, a man might look at this and wonder why God gives women a way out of a vow, but not men. Or if he is somewhat arrogant, he might think that she gets the way out because she is frivolous, a ‘silly woman’ who is apt to make foolish vows.

A woman could view this regulation as unfair, that the man is honored above her and that God thinks she is some kind of lesser being because her father or her husband has more control of her decisions than she does. Or she could be happy about this rule because God is giving her a safeguard and protection against making a rash promise, something a man does not have.

When it comes to living out the gender battles (this war started in Eden and continues to this day), the NT teaches that marriage is an illustration that symbolizes the relationship between Christ and the church. I find that helpful. If I can relate to my hubby the way the church is to relate to Christ, great things happen!

Today’s NT reading is also helpful. Men and women are not alike, but two women are not alike either. Each person, regardless of gender, has gifts that make us unique. Paul writes that those differences do not change our status or usefulness in His kingdom . . .

“For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:14–20)

This applies to the church (body of Christ), but also states a fact about the differences between me and my husband. We are not alike because we have different gifts and serve different ways, not just in the church but also in our home. He takes care of chores that I don’t even notice. I do chores that he appreciates, but has no time to do. We share some things too.

In both marriage and church relationships, the key to appreciating God’s directions is not about such things as equality, or gender privilege, or who is the boss, or all the other issues that can bring division. The key is that “more excellent way” Paul points to at the end of 1 Corinthians 12 . . . 

“And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing . . . Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Corinthians 13:2; 4–8)

God teaches (as does experience) that love is not entirely mushy emotion, physical attraction, or adoring feelings. These happen, but love is being like Jesus toward others. It is as Paul describes, and grounded solidly in trusting the Lord. I cannot control how others behave, or how they treat me, or that they love and obey God. But I can trust God. He will supply my “I wants” as He sees fit, and by whatever means He sees fit.

To this I say, “Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” (Psalm 25:4–5)

Try seeing it from God’s perspective

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life . . .” (Psalm 23:6)

It is easy to say this when life hands us roses, but what about those thorns? How can I think God is being merciful and good to me when my circumstances feel anything but? Do I have to be some sort of Pollyanna to see the bright side? Is this a ‘hope so’ statement from the Psalm? Or is it a ‘know so’ statement of faith? One thing God is teaching me (I’m a slow learner) is that faith requires a shift in perspective and a new value system. Faith means seeing life’s circumstances as God sees them.

Yesterday someone told us that African people all say, “The Christians come in, convert them, start churches, then leave.” They were not happy about being left on their own. But I’ve learned why missionaries do that. The new Christians and new churches need to be self-sustaining, depending on God and not on the resources of believers from countries that have “more” than they do. They also do not need these outsiders to control how they should live in their culture, but learn from God what He wants them to do. This perspective surprised the person whose opinion had been somewhat one-sided.

The Bible is filled with more examples of good coming out of what seems negative. Paul was in prison and the church at Philippi was concerned about him. However, he wrote them saying, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.” (Philippians 1:12–13) Being in jail gave Paul opportunities to share Christ that he would not otherwise have had. Goodness was in the mind of God, not hardship, and Paul could see that.

It was the same when Joseph was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. He wound up a leader in Egypt and saved his entire family during a famine. After he moved them to Egypt they became anxious that he would retaliate, so they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.” ’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.”

However, Joseph had a different perspective. He “wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, ‘Behold, we are your servants.’ But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.’” (Genesis 50:16–20)

Often the goodness of God is seen only in hindsight. When I suffer or struggle, I wonder where God is, but He is with me in goodness and mercy anyway, always working “all things together for good” and always conforming my life “to the image of his Son” because this is His good and merciful plan.

He also says, “Those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified” and we have to respond, “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:28–32)

The past year has been one of great struggle and great blessing. I’m still not able to fully see the plan of God in it. I’ve often wondered where His goodness and mercy is in all this. But because this is what the Good Shepherd promised for His sheep, I persevere. Rather than give up or despair, far better to cling to the One who persists in saying goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. 

Keeping an eternal perspective

Several platitudes speak of perspective. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” How about this one: “You meant it for evil but God used it for good.” (Joseph to his brothers in Genesis 50:20) 

Yesterday’s post was about the value God has in mind when adversity comes. He also makes no exceptions. A godly believer like Job and Joseph faced extreme hardship just as an ungodly person might. Those who have received a lofty calling, as did Elijah the prophet, cannot expect that God will guard them from all harm, as if that is a right granted along with the calling. 

Jesus experienced the same as we do in that He was tempted in all points as we are yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15). He suffered in weakness as a man who did not call on legions of angels to rescue Him. He served humanity as one of us and by dying for us. 

Elijah experienced this, also revealing the mind of God and that His view is much larger than our perspective. He knows that even though this prophet was His messenger, he would serve the people better as one of them, as suffering with them. Therefore, the very blessing Elijah enjoyed because of the special care and calling of God was taken from him.

And after a while the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land. (1 Kings 17:7)

God does not make exceptions just because I am His child. Lofty calling or not, I cannot ever think that His blessings are my right. I cannot claim exemption from pain because I am a Christian. Yet I know that this happens. As Job experienced, when things go wrong, if we don’t think it ourselves, our friends might think that we must have done something evil to ‘deserve’ this for God ‘must’ always protect His obedient children.

As the devotional writer points out in today’s reading, at the heart this is the idea that, “because I am a prophet (or I am a child of God) and my resources/blessings can never dry up.” Yet one of the hardest lessons we must learn is that although God is love and loves us to the uttermost, those who trust and serve him will not be exempted from pain and sorrow. 

My salvation means I am saved from the punishment and power of sin, not from the cares and sorrows of this life. In serving Jesus, can I expect greater things from God than that which befell His Son? 

Yet even as Jesus did, I can rely on my Father. Jesus, for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despised its shame and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Whatever happens to me here cannot be compared with the glory that awaits me there.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17–18)