Look UP !

It’s started for some and will soon for others: going back to school.  Do you remember what that was like those of you a good bit past your 20’s ?  Once I became a Christian I enjoyed the time, my perspective was much better then. I saw the start of school as a great opportunity to learn something and learn it well for God. And of course there were the meeting and making of new friends, the different teachers, assignments and their consequent challenges, etc. But all in all it was good !

What will God be schooling you about this fall?  How will you look at it and how will you handle it?  Maybe there’s a challenge you’re facing already. Perhaps God’s brought some new people across your path, will you be an influence for Christ – being careful about your testimony, being a spiritual encouragement to them and helping them with your time, energy, etc?   How will or do you see it?  Its easy to complain about the work load or the situation you face but we must have the right perspective that only God can give us through His Word !

In Sunday School a couple days ago I referenced a few verses from Lk.10, “But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion on him. And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, ‘Take care of him: and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.’ ”  (verses 33-35).

Jesus then asked His listeners as to which man had been a good neighbor to that hurting soul.  You can almost hear the “duh’s” from the crowd.  Well of course, it was the Samaritan !    Why? His perspective was more Christlike !!   That great parable was precipitated though because a man smugly asked the Lord, “And who is my neighbor?” (vs.29).  This, as the KJV puts it, was his attempt to “justify himself”.   Christ used even his perspective to turn him and us to a better one !! 

Our neighbors need us as Christians to SEE their needs and do whatever we can by God’s grace to meet them. But that means our spiritual sight must be correct first.  We get better as we look at things through the holy lens of Scripture. I was in recently to get my eyes examined, they have this new machine now that inspects your eyes even better than an optometrist can with traditional testing (ya know the good ole Eye chart and stuff). I’m told with this technology your night vision will improve as much as 20% —  sweeeeet !  But it’s not my aging eyes that they will improve, the improvement will be realized in the new lenses !

  I’m all for seeing better but especially when it comes to seeing what He wants me to see.  Look around you this week at people who need the Lord, at your challenges as opportunities to glorify Him and go off into the fall looking at things a little better and fresher !!