By Pastor Bridget Sheely
Racine/Wykoff/Sumner Center UMC
The word perspective has made its way into my mind space quit often lately. I have seen Facebook posts pop up out of nowhere pronouncing that maybe it’s time to clear my vision, news reports that cause me to get distracted from what is truly important, and now in my churches book study of “Revelation,” by Margaret Fienberg, our session 2 discussion centered around the perspective we have of God, heaven, and this faith we are called to.
So, what is the definition of perspective? According to the dictionary, perspective is a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something, a point of view. So, with that in mind let me ask you this-what is your perspective of the Christian Faith today? Or more personally, what is your attitude toward God today? As believers, we must be on guard where our relationship with God is concerned. We must be vigilant in walking daily with the principles of God’s Word, living by His teachings, and coming to Him in worship and prayer. Without a personal relationship with God our life becomes just a dry religion of existence. You see, God is life and without a personal relationship with Him there can be no true or complete life in the principles. Saying you believe in Jesus Christ but not following through with committing to that relationship through worship, prayer, and study can get you into a place where you actually have no personal relationship with God at all but instead you become a mere acquaintance like to distance friend and all that’s left is just you and the narrow perspective you have of His Word.
Jesus Christ said the number one commandment is to Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. How can that be accomplished if fewer people are making the commitment to spend time in His house? Take a look at every Christian worship service and you will see just a sprinkling of faithful followers. Why have we lost the perspective of how important God says worshipping Him is. The first five of the ten commandments centers around the great importance of worshipping Him. My dear friends, life is full of work-related deadlines, the overload of sporting events, the push and pull of want-to-do’s, all which are important and fun but when these events become distractions that take us away from the most important relationship in our lives, it is then time to self-evaluate and well, change our perspective.
Are you ready to change the view? Are you willing to shuffle around those “have to’s” in life so that God becomes the clear center again? Are you open to accepting His invitation to come to His house to gather with His children and praise His name?
It is time to declare that this new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the worries of choices made yesterday. You have the gift each day to make God your center, your guide for – “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 ESV)
Herrnhut says
We need the complete comprehensive solution of forgiveness, blessing and healing – faith in Christ Jesus like this roman soldier having greater faith than the whole religious country of Mosaic law with Love God as much as possible.
(Matthew 8:5-13) And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.