Barnabas Bulletin ~ 0047 

SEEING THE BIGGER PICTURE 

We live in a world that is increasingly in turmoil. Pressures come against us in the family, the marriage relationship, in friendships, in the work place, and even in the church, and from other Christians individually. The world itself is in constant threat of wanting to “self-destruct” because of the hatred (and often it is religious hatred) that abounds. For those of us seeking to do the will of God, it is very important that we continually are encouraged to keep our focus and mind on “the bigger picture.” It is so easy to be influenced by the problem at hand, that nasty piece of criticism, or that well-meaning Christian who cannot see the real desire and motivation of your heart to fulfil God’s purposes in your life. If we focus in on the immediate, or that one particular problem, we are likely to become engulfed with a mentality that will eventually “close us down” and prevent us from fulfilling that which Jesus came to give us.

When we see the bigger picture we are realistic enough to know that if we are going to accomplish great things in this life, then we are going to encounter obstacles, opposition and people talking negatively about us. These things can affect us in one of two ways. We can either allow them to impact us in a negative way, or we can use them to learn from, and then to spur us on to even greater things. If what you believe is the will of God for your life – and it is worth fighting for – then fight for it! Not in the physical, but in faith, obedience and prayer, because we can see that the best things in life are worth fighting for. If someone can talk you out of the call of God, then you have to question the strength of that call. But when the negatives come, and they inspire you to know even more that it is God’s call you are pursuing, then you are seeing the bigger picture and allowing those present, temporal, and even negative things to be turned into “stepping stones” (rather than “stumbling blocks”) for the glory of Jesus.

See the bigger picture of your life! Jesus said, “For one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15). So many today are looking for possessions and prosperity – now! But life’s true qualities are found in our ability to “see” into the future in such a way that it impacts the way we live right now. The bigger picture shows us what the different negativities can produce positively in us, if and as we allow them to push us closer to Jesus, His love, and His will. Life does deliver to us many things (often quite unexpected), and it is our ability to recognize them for what they are, and to adjust to them in such a way that they cause us to rise even higher. For the Christian who knows the reality of the presence of Jesus in his/her life, “We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose . . . What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:28-31). To know the reality of these verses, we have to be seeing the bigger picture!

Jesus did warn us: “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!” (Luke 17:1). Not one person is going to get through life without a crisis and a battle from time to time. The question is, “Are we going to allow these times to detract us from that ‘high calling of God in Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 3:12-15)? Are we going to ‘cave in’ because someone does not like something about us, or what we are doing?” To those of us seeking to see more of the bigger picture, the answer is clearly “No!” And don’t worry about that “little person” through whom the offenses come. God has His own way of sorting people out!(Romans 12:19-21). Your task is to keep pursuing God’s bigger picture for your life in such a way it will impact others more positively than before. God Bless you! – Rodney W. Francis.

Bible  Readings:  

Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; John 15:1-17; Romans 8:18-39; 1 John 4:4.   

 Please Pray This Prayer: