Changed Perspective

 

Changed Perspective

1 John 4: ¹¹ Dear friends, if this is how God loved us, then we should love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God, but if we love one another, God lives in union with us, and his love is made perfect in us.

 

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Working hard was not getting me anywhere. My evaluations said I was “good at my job” but when I asked for a promotion, they said I was not “ready.” “What did they mean?” I asked a mentor. He said, “You have to become the company.?” In other words, I had to fully believe in the company.

 

• I had to eat, drink and sleep the company values.
• I had to fully indoctrinate myself in the company, its people and messages.
• I had to be around the people who would pull me up and place me in high positions; and it worked!

 

 

John spent time explaining that GOD is pure love and that HE showed HIS love by giving the world the gift of HIS SON as their Savior. John then implies that because of GOD’s behavior, our perspective on what is important should change. He suggests that if we love one another, then GOD’s love will be made perfect.

 

My Observations:

• GOD loves HIS creation and wants us to love each other.
• GOD loved us so much that HE gave us HIS most valuable gift, namely HIS SON.
• GOD raised JESUS from the dead and wants to do the same for you and me, so HE commands that we love one another through belief in JESUS.

 

Not knowing what true love is can be difficult. I mean, the world has a view that is contrary to GOD’s view. HIS definition of love is that JESUS volunteered to become a human and die for mankind. HE agreed and watched HIS son be lied upon and murdered. HE raised HIM from the dead. The world does not value this viewpoint and defines love in ways that could have people focus on something less perfect.

 

JESUS wanted perfection. HE sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside you and me so that GOD’s love can be made perfect. HE guides us to seek one another, serve one another and love one another. I am glad GOD loves you and me so much that HE gave us HIS all.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer express the importance of living in union with GOD?
• Have you ever mimicked someone, to the point where you sound like him or her?
• Will you change your perspective on life and view GOD’s love as valuable enough to mimic, so HIS love can be made perfect in you today?

Renewing Image

Renewing Image

Colossians 3: ⁸ But now you must get rid of all these things: anger, passion, and hateful feelings. No insults or obscene talk must ever come from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, for you have put off the old self with its habits ¹⁰ and have put on the new self. This is the new being which God, its Creator, is constantly renewing in his own image, in order to bring you to a full knowledge of himself. ¹¹ As a result, there is no longer any distinction between Gentiles and Jews, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarians, savages, slaves, and free, but Christ is all, Christ is in all.

 

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“Where were you?” was the strange question given to me. I had snuck back to my apartment, made dinner, ate and came back to work to clock out. My clothes wreaked of cooked food and I was not where I was supposed to be. “I am disappointed in you especially.”

 

• I could see the disappointment in his face.
• I had not done what I was supposed to.
• I ruined my image over something that could have waited.

 

Paul addresses image. Some people were expressing rage, hatred and extreme feelings against or towards specific groups of people. Their image was no longer like that of GOD. Instead, they had fallen into habits that were divisive.

 

My Observations

• GOD created me in HIS image and HE was very pleased.
• Sin caused me to no longer look like HIM, rather I looked like the enemy who tried to steal me.
• JESUS restored my image and provided the HOLY SPIRIT who is “constantly renewing” me in HIS own image.

 

Being born into sin seems unfair and impossible to overcome. I mean, I did not choose to be born, yet because I was born, I an condemned! Not fair! BUT GOD saw this and made things right. JESUS saw the impossible situation, became a human, allowed HIS creation to murder HIM and was raised from the dead for all who believe.

 

Salvation changed my image from death to life. I am now alive! Because of JESUS I have purpose, abundant life and hope. I still sin, but I have an alternative and forgiveness that enables me to have peace in the middle of the storm. I am glad GOD cares about me enough to bring me back to HIS image.

 

Challenge

• What does the writer mean by “put on the new self?”
• Do you think GOD, who saved you, has left you on your own to figure out how to get out of trials?
• Will you trust GOD’s ways enough to drop some old habits and to become more and more like HIM, little by little today?

Moment of Clarity

Moment of Clarity

Acts 11: ⁴ But Peter explained it to them in order from the beginning, saying: ⁵ “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object descending like a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came to me. ⁶ When I observed it intently and considered, I saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. ⁷ And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ⁸ But I said, ‘Not so, Lord! For nothing common or unclean has at any time entered my mouth.’ ⁹ But the voice answered me again from heaven, ‘What God has cleansed you must not call common.’

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“You got it! Said the math teacher to me. I understood what was being said and I was able to explain it back to the teacher, clearly. I understood the principle and could apply the concept.

• There have been times when I understood something at a certain moment.
• There have been times when I got it after putting the pieces together.
• There have been times when I could point to the moment of clarity after wrestling with something.

Peter explains a very strange vision. For years he had been taught one way but was told to do something that seemed opposite. He was told to eat some very strange animals and insects which would make him ritually unclean. BUT GOD explained the concept of clean to him.

• GOD wants me to seek HIM so HE can provide clarity.
• GOD wants me to listen to HIM so HE can teach me.
• GOD wants me to study HIS ways so HE can correct my broken thinking about HIM.

All of heaven rejoices when one human has a moment of clarity regarding the belief in JESUS as the Savior. GOD loves when I look for HIM and find HIM sitting right next to me, never having left to go anywhere. This moment of clarity grows my faith in HIM and builds my trust. I am grateful GOD provides clarity in my purpose for HIM.

• Are you confused right now?
• Do you spend most of your time talking about someone else, never talking about your relationship with GOD?
• Will you ask GOD for a moment of clarity for your purpose?

Think Like One

Matthew 27: ⁶² The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. ⁶³ “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ ⁶⁴ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

⁶⁵ “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

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“What will I say to them” ran through my mind. I thought up my “story” and worked it out in my mind. When I told the person what had “happened” they began to question and I had no good answers. My lie had not gone that far.

• There were times when I lied to cover myself.
• There were times when I made up stories just to be seen in a good light.
• There were times when I tried to get others to say a lie with me.

Unfortunately for the Pharisees and chief priests, they were thinking like liars and thieves. They thought they could cover their murder by sealing the grave. They even agreed on their lie. GOD saw it all.

• GOD wants me to tell the truth even when it hurts me.
• GOD wants me to not hide my sin so others can be healed.
• GOD wants me to stop being a fraudulent religious person and be transparent.

What good is it to be evil and attend church regularly? I mean on the outside I may look good, BUT GOD sees my heart. HE knows when I am covering something up and will not stand for it. “Every hidden thing will come to light” GOD says, so it is better to bring my sins to the surface than have GOD expose them in a more difficult way.

• Are you covering something up?
• Do you think your lie is not going to be found out?
• Will you stop hiding your sin and confess it so GOD can use it for good?