Disorienting
Getting lost is a PERSPECTIVE issue
May think you are going the right way, BUT NOT
Let me show you TWO TOOLS that are all about perspective
Tool 1:
MAGNIFYING GLASS
What perspective is this designed to show?
Up Close
Tool 2:
BINOCULARS
What perspective is this designed to show?
Far away
Magnifying Glass makes SMALL THINGS BIG
Binoculars make DISTANT THINGS CLOSE
One is not better than the other
They both offer a UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
I share this because it can help us understand scripture…
The Bible is like a magnifying Glass
Zooms in on specific things
If you are lost in the woods, you don’t use a magnifying glass to find your way out
It’s not the right perspective
It’s to small
Isaiah was zoomed in –
The people where zoomed in
The kings where zoomed in – Doing what they want – No consequences
Then God gives Isaiah a NEW PERSPECTIVE…
Isaiah 9
1 Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future he will bring honor to the way of the sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased its joy. The people have rejoiced before you as they rejoice at harvest time and as they rejoice when dividing spoils.
4 For you have shattered their oppressive yoke and the rod on their shoulders, the staff of their oppressor, just as you did on the day of Midian.
5 For every trampling boot of battle and the bloodied garments of war will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.
In the middle of all the self-focus and GLOOM, God gives Isaiah some Binoculars
See from my perspective
See what I am Doing
This tendency in us has not changed
We Focus on SMALL THINGS and make them BIG THINGS
Things like:
Worry
Stress
Selfishness
Bitterness
Fear
etc
This is our attempt at taking the magnifying Glass and making things that don’t matter… MATTER
Zooming in changes the context of what is really going on
Make you think it really about you
BUT IT NOT ABOUT YOU
Or me
Or any of us
This is NOT your story, and God is a part of it
We are living in God’s story and HE is inviting us to take part in it
That’s what Christmas is
Christmas is an invitation to see from God’s perspective
DO YOU SEE WHAT I SEE?
Can’t be so zoomed in on you own stuff that you miss what God is doing
How he wants you to be a part
Get out of your own story and see the story that God is telling
Want to show you how…
Luke 24
13 Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. 15 And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk along with them. 16 But they were prevented from recognizing him. 17 Then he asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged.
18 The one named Cleopas answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked them.
So they said to him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, 23 and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see him.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Wasn’t it necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself in all the Scriptures.
How to get a new perspective:
1: Read your Bible in larger chunks
Not just a verse or two
Read it in a year, Set a goal
Chapter and verses — Last 500 years
The Bible is a unified story that leads to Jesus, not a self-help manual where you can pick out what you want
You will only get that perspective by reading it as it was intended
2: When praying, ask God to help you see the big picture
Not only about yourself
Selfishness is a magnifying glass
Pray that God will help you get OVER YOURSELF so can better be about someone else
Ask for help seeing from His view
Trials
Pain/suffering
Heartbreak
World History
Your story
3: Serve Others
Get out of your story and into someone else’s
See their pain
Heartache
Wins & losses
You might find out you are more blessed than you think
Serving teaches us that it’s not just about us, but what God can do through us