In today’s passage found in Colossians, we are instructed to be wise and pay attention:

Colossians 4:5

5Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.

Make it a point to be aware of what is going on around you—particularly when those around you may not know or understand God. It is in these moments that we have opportunities to influence. The reality is people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.

We have been given a chance to represent God’s grace and reflect His character in such a way to impact another human being—who is also made for God. So we must be wise. It is way too easy to move through our days so consumed by our own agenda that we ignore what is occurring in the places where we’ve planted.

It takes a mindset to think of others first and consider ourselves as servants. Don’t let any opportunities slip through the cracks to make Christ’s heart known.

Lord, there are people I come in contact with all the time who do not know You. Help me to be aware of the opportunities that are before me—and make the most of them. May I be used by you for your glory. Amen.

Luke 16:1-13

 1Jesus told his disciples: “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions. 2So he called him in and asked him, ‘What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.’

 3“The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do now? My master is taking away my job. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg— 4I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’

 5“So he called in each one of his master’s debtors. He asked the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’

 6” ‘Eight hundred gallonsof olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred.’

 7“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ ” ‘A thousand bushelsof wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’

 8“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.

 10“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. 11So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? 12And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

 13“No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

At first glance, to be labeled a shrewd is a title few would want. The word carries with it some negative images like the shrewd businessman who is cutthroat and will not let anything stand in the way of what he wants. The ultimate goal for him is personal success, and every decision is seen through this lens even if the end results leave hurting people in his wake. Many feel this word resides in the place where manipulation, crookedness, and deception call home.

For this very reason, we struggle to understand the truth Jesus was trying to convey by telling the parable of the shrewd manager found in Luke 16:1-13. Chances are good it caught some of His listeners off guard because it appears that Jesus is praising a crook for his actions. Why would Jesus want us to emulate a man whose boss labeled him as not only dishonest (v.8) but incompetent (v.1) as well? Some translations go as far as stating the shrewd manager was a thief (v. 2). Should we take this to mean He is condoning this biblical Robin Hood’s approach to money management?

We know and trust that a Holy God would never applaud deceptive behavior. So what exactly does He want believers to emulate in the shrewd money manager? Believe it or not, God desires us to be shrewd. Our hang-up with this parable comes from the motives that drove the manager’s actions. They were purely self-serving. Having been busted by his boss for squandering the resources he had been given, the manager goes into resource mode to save his own hide.

Slashing debts left and right suddenly placed the manager on solid footing because through his actions his boss was seen as generous in the eyes of others. The boss is now stuck between a rock and a hard place. He either commends his manager and accepts the label of being generous or fires his manager and appears greedy. This would cause sympathy from the debtors, and the manager would have a place to stay when his mean, greedy boss fired him.

Realizing he had just been the victim of a fast one, the boss could not help but chuckle and applaud the manager’s quick thinking and resourcefulness. Shedding his incompetent and lazy label, the manager was now constantly alert, looking for angles, and skillful in his adaptation. Shrewdness is a middle term that is neither good nor evil. Instead, the motives that lead a person to be shrewd are what determine the word’s morality. Synonyms for being shrewd are astute, calculating, discerning, and perceptive.

In Matthew 10:16, Jesus encourages His disciples to be “shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” This statement drives to the heart and shines light on the truth of the parable, which is to leverage everything we have for God’s kingdom. It would be easy to dismiss the strengths the manager possessed because they were done with an impure heart. Yet, the key to this parable is found in verse 8: “For the children of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light.” In other words, if a crook only looking out for his own can understand that his life is better when he gives away money to benefit others, then why can’t the people of God manage to get it right?

What if we focused on the servant’s resourcefulness and his ability to think outside the box and imagine what it would look like if they were done with pure motives? Shrewdness becomes strategic when we use our influence for God’s kingdom. How can we begin to be shrewd? The execution comes when you use your life. It begins by paying attention to the things that are going on around you. We need to think of how we can use our resources and abilities to make Him known. Use the opportunities you have been given to enhance God’s reputation.

God, help me to be shrewd in the opportunities you present in order to further your kingdom. Allow me to act with purpose. May I act and speak with pure motives so you may be glorified. Amen.

The foundation for our recently introduced Bystander series comes from one verse found in this section. Over the course of the next few weeks, we will be coming back to this verse time and time again. Why you might ask? Well, within this single verse, Jesus tells us who we are. He is speaking about our identity.

Nothing has a greater potential to influence our actions and words than truly seeing ourselves from His perspective. Trusting in this identity not only gives us hope for the future but also purpose for our days. We are able to gain a proper perspective not only on how we perceive the world but also our role within it. So, how did Jesus refer to us? Take a moment to reflect and journal on the following verse:

Matthew 5:13

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

We are the “salt of the earth.” At first glance, it seems a bit odd that Jesus would choose a common baking ingredient to describe believers. And to top things off, He didn’t pick a more exotic ingredient like cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, or paprika. Nope, Jesus referred to us as the Rodney Dangerfield of the spice rack. Salt gets no respect.

Even though salt is the least glamorous of all the spices, it is the most widely used. Most of our food already has salt added to it. Almost every recipe includes at least a pinch of salt. Salt is a vital ingredient. It brings out and enhances flavor. It balances out the rest of the spices. From a single bite, you know if a recipe included too much salt or not enough. It’s that noticeable.

Yet, for as critical as salt is to baking, it can be a bit unnerving being compared to something you can purchase for less than a few dollars at the local Harris Teeter. This is where understanding past cultures plays a critical role in unlocking the truths of Scripture.

During Jesus’ time, salt was a valuable commodity. Back then, your life literally depended on your ability to acquire and have access to salt. It was so valuable that in some areas it was used as currency. The Latin phrase “salarium argentum” referred to the payment every Roman solider received. They literally got paid in salt. This phrase carried down through the ages and later became the English word we know now as “salary.”

So what should one take away from this brief discourse on the importance of salt? How should seeing yourself as salt influence how you go about your business today? Quite simply, you have value in God’s eyes. As the salt of the earth, you are an essential ingredient in making His name known. Yet in order to make a difference, salt must make contact. We must mix ourselves up in this mixed up, messed up world. Through the way you live your life, you add flavor to this world.

Remember what we learned on Sunday. Everybody is leading somebody somewhere. Without you reflecting His name through love and forgiveness, the world would take notice. There would be something missing. You play a critical role in helping others encounter a loving and caring Savior.

God, help me to realize that every day I encounter people who need you. Allow me to see them as you see them. May I take my responsibility of being the salt of the earth seriously. Amen.

Matthew 5:13-16

13“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Everybody is leading somebody, somewhere. None of us are simply standing by. Each morning we wake up and go about our business interacting with others. In these interactions we are influencing people and pointing them in a direction. Through our actions and our words, we are leading individuals. Whether it’s our family, co-workers, neighbors or random encounters, we are influencing individuals through the way we live our lives. But, many of us don’t stop long enough to ponder where we are leading them. If these people followed you, where would they end up?

Coming to the realization that people are looking at the way you leverage your influence can be a bit intimidating at first.  Our influence must be based and viewed solely through our identity in Christ and the truths of who God says we are found in scripture.  Unfortunately, many of us feel uneasy or nervous when confronted with a picture of ourselves seen through God’s eyes. Rather than shrink away from our responsibility, we must use how God’s word defines us as our rallying cry for change.

In Matthew 5:13-16, the imagery of salt and light is used to describe the basic character of a Christian’s life. Captured in this passage is the reason we must make every effort to be great stewards of the influence we’ve been given. The Greek word for salt is ‘halas.’ They used this term to describe a preservative or something which cleanses and purifies. In essence, we have been charged with doing the purifying work of Jesus here on earth. To be like salt means to add something that is beneficial to the earth. By living your life differently, you are adding the essential qualities of Jesus to this world.

Jesus continues on in verses 14 and 15 by describing believers as the light of the world. This imagery connected with the listeners of this era because rabbis thought of Israel as a light to the world. It also points back to Isaiah 42:6 where God called the suffering servant to be a light to the nations. In the gospel of John, Jesus is described as the light from God which shines into the darkness of the world. Now, Jesus is calling us to be a light in a dark world.

This leaves us with some pretty challenging questions. How can we be a light to the world? What must the world see? If we don’t live as the salt then what is the point in being salt in the first place? If I am a believer and don’t try to live as a light to those around me, what is the point? Jesus tells us who we are. We are the salt and light. We are called to make a difference and directly impact culture. If our salt doesn’t add flavor to this world and our light fails to illuminate then what is the point? Your ability to influence begins and ends with your integrity and walk with God.

As salt and light we are urged to go out into the world. Not Jesus, but you. By referring to us as the salt, Jesus is telling us that we matter in terms of doing God’s work here on Earth. God is calling each of us to be a light in a darkened world. Our hope is that the way we live our lives will lead men and women to glorify God and catch a glimpse of the transformation which occurs when God captures someone’s heart. Being salt is about pointing others toward God. Leadership is about serving God in such a way that He is glorified and you are able to influence those you touch in the ways of God. You lead by living as Jesus has called you to follow Him. Influence overflows from your walk.

Each one of us must ask ourselves whether we are being intentional with the responsibility and influence we’ve been given. What are you doing with this message of hope? This question changes everything because it moves you from participating to owning the mission.

Leverage is simply the power to influence something in a particular direction. Leverage is about taking personal responsibility for the Kingdom of God. One begins to leverage their life when they begin to understand God has given them the power to influence others through the way they live their lives.

Reaching people is not a passive activity. Salt must make contact in order to make a difference. Helping someone walk with God requires taking the time to get to know them. The challenge before you is to start somewhere with someone. Just begin to move in. Everywhere you look are hurting people waiting for someone to engage them.

Reaching involves identifying who is within your reach. Whether you believe it or not, God has you right where He wants you. All around you are people who are desperate for meaning in their life. They want nothing more than to hear there is a God full of grace and mercy who desires to be in a relationship with them.  Now pause for a second: Who are the “they” in your life?

God, let me steward the influence you’ve given me well. May I realize that every moment is an opportunity to influence and impact others for your name. Allow the excitement I feel over being lavished with your grace to overflow in my actions and words. Amen.

Romans 6:5-18

5 If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. 14 For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18 You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

You never know what you will come across when you read the “In Other News” section found near the back pages of most newspapers. This is the place where tidbits of strange happenings make their home. They often tell of random events that don’t seem to fit anywhere else, but in place labeled ‘other.’

One of my all time favorite “In Other News” stories is the one about the fiasco that took place a few years back during Halloween in White Plains, NY. A guy named Oscar was taking his daughter trick-or-treating in a local neighborhood. Both dad and daughter were dressed up in costumes going door to door. You might be wondering what is noteworthy about a little girl who dresses up like a princess or Disney character getting candy. We haven’t got to what Oscar was wearing; his old orange prisoner’s jumpsuit.

Just by chance, or because God has a great sense of humor, a county correction officer was out trick-or-treating with her child and spotted the familiar jumpsuit. Fearing he was an escape convict, it sent the local jail into lockdown until they could establish no inmates were missing. Meanwhile, cops found Oscar and confiscated the genuine jumpsuit. Oscar was arrested and charged with petty larceny and possession of stolen property, both misdemeanors. You see prisoners are not permitted to take their jumpsuits home when they are released.

Romans 6 speaks in great detail about how we were once slaves or prisoners to sin, but since we have accepted what Christ did on the cross, we have been set free. The chains have been taken off and we are able to live life freely. The door to our jail cell has been opened, we’ve been released and all we need to do is hand in our prisoner’s jumpsuit on the way out. We have been set free.

Very few words in the English language evoke more emotion than the word freedom. Something inside us feels liberated and joyful whenever it is spoken or experienced firsthand. We picture chains being broken and the weight of the world taken off our shoulders. It is only natural for us to yearn to be free.

Yet, how many of us still have the orange jumpsuit tucked away somewhere deep in our closet or take it out and wear it from time to time? You don’t know what it is, but there is something keeping you from getting rid of your old garb. It’s just that you are so used to how the prisoner’s jumpsuit feels and looks on you that you struggle to part with it.

The longer you keep this jumpsuit in your possession the greater the pull you will feel to go back to your old lifestyle. In essence, you are helping put back on the very chains that Christ went to the cross to break for good. The reason you find yourself dealing with the same old struggles time and time again is because you are suffering from a case of mistaken identity.

This piece of clothing symbolizes your old condition, not your new identity in Christ. Our sin nature might always be a part of us, but we are no longer obligated to sin. Our freedom is fond in God’s truth. Rather than living under the constant pressure of trying to reach an unattainable standard (the law), we are instead covered by God’s grace, which looks so much better than that tacky, old orange jumpsuit.

God, may I see myself like you see me. Let my new identity in you define me. Allow it to penetrate my heart and mind so I can live confidently in the fact that I’ve been saved by grace. Amen.

1 John 3:1

1How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him

Jeremiah 31:3

3 The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.

Whether we realize or not, everyone has a view of God, regardless of where one is in his or her faith journey. It’s a picture that defines what we believe about God’s heart, what He values and how He interacts with humanity. With that said, what does your picture of God look like? How does this snapshot influence the way you approach Him and how you believe He approaches you? These questions are critical because they shape us at our core. Regarded theologian A.W. Tozer goes as far as saying that “what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

Sadly, our initial pictures of God reveal how much we misunderstand the heart of God. Often, the first things that comes to mind for many of us when we think about God are rules, guidelines, and restrictions. This view drives us into a work-based agreement rather than a caring relationship. The Bible instantly becomes a dry instruction manual that needs to be followed in order to have a relationship with Him. We often translate this into the assumption that we’ve got to act better in order for God to accept and love us. If we just stay in the guidelines, then we will be in His good graces.

The strangest thing about this assumption, this idea that God loves and accepts us based on our behavior, is that it didn’t come from God at all. In fact, God’s message is just the opposite. God’s message is that you will never find acceptance with Him through your behavior. When sin entered into the world, there was nothing that “we” could do to atone for this condition.

God sent the clearest message possible about His heart when He sent His son, Jesus Christ. It is a message of unconditional love. When you understand the heart behind the one making the rules, you will begin to see those boundaries and guidelines in a different way. You will begin to see the “why” behind God giving them to us in the first place. God’s rules or guidelines are not conditions of a relationship with Him; they are confirmation of a relationship. God’s rules or guidelines are not conditions of His love; they are confirmation of His love.

The problem is we tend to compartmentalize so that He becomes something we can manage. We give Him access to some areas of our lives but restrict His access to others. By forcing Him into a little box, we feel more comfortable ignoring His voice as He speaks to those past hurts, sins, failures, and regrets.  God knows that while this is our tendency, this is not what a relationship with Him looks like. Yet, He still offers us something that no one else can offer: unconditional love.

There are no gimmicks, hooks, baits, or switches with God.  He literally gives to us unconditionally, no strings attached. We have the option to accept it or reject it.  And what is hard for our brains to wrap around is that if we reject God, it still does not change how He feels about us. He is in a continual pursuit for our hearts. His LOVE never ends.

When we replace God and His Love with the grasping of control, our life deteriorates. When we cut off love within our family, friends, and marriage, our relationships and our lives are capable of spinning out of control. This is not how God has designed us live. God knows that while this is our tendency, this is not what relationship with Him looks like. God wants to be the center of every decision, the One you go to for everything, the One you depend on, the one you respond to.

God, thank you for loving me in the midst of my brokenness. Thank you for seeing all the junk that is in my heart and still loving me. May I reflect your love to others through my actions and my words. Amen.

Romans 8:19-25

19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God.  20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.  22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.  23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.  24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?  25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it. 

Futility rises when something is pointless. Futility causes us to question God. Where was God in the midst of the suffering? More than anything else, as humans we crave peace. Our worst nightmare is coming face to face with uncertainty, pain, tension or struggles. The last thing we want is for life to throw us a curveball. Yet, we are foolishly engaged in a losing battle. It is inevitable we will face struggles or encounter circumstances that don’t seem to make sense.

Paul, the author of Romans, understood it wasn’t a matter of ‘if’ one will run into problems and trials, but ‘when’ (Romans 5:3). Later on in Romans, Paul speaks to the futility of the world. He says that creation was subject to futility and is slave to corruption (Romans 8:20-21). He takes it a step further and describes creations response to this futility as groaning and suffering (Romans 8:22).

What Paul was concerned about was the heart of his readers and their perspective on the trials they encounter. Why is this happening? How could God allow this to happen? What’s the purpose behind this seemingly senseless act? How did I end up in this situation? What did I do to deserve this? What am I going to do now? These are a few of the heart jarring questions that race through our minds when we run into problems. We want to know what the point is to the futility.

It’s as if Paul understood our tendency to lose perspective. In the midst of the struggle, we find ourselves at a fork in the road. One turn leads down a trail towards bitterness, anger, cynicism and resentment.  We can very easily let the futility of this world paralyze us by questioning the very existent of a loving God. What we don’t realize is that a batch of quicksand awaits us down this path. The moment we turn in this direction our forward momentum stalls out and we remain here wallowing in our own frustration and confusion.

On the other side is a trail that at first appears rocky and difficult to navigate. There is part of you, especially your heart, that doubts it is even passable. You realize those first few steps will be the most challenging because it requires you to trust that these trials were not random or meant to punish you, but were funneled through the lens of a loving and sovereign God. It is realizing the futility breeds hope not despair.

We are not designed to be filled with what has been created in this futility, but we are designed to become what all of creation is anxiously awaiting. The anxious longing is for the revealing of you and I as God’s children – holy, accepted, and forever complete. God set it this way so that even the longing in our hearts is for Him (Romans 8:23). Remember, every longing at its core is a longing for life. This means uncertainty should awaken our faith and our faith awakens our hope.  Hope always pushes us to believe that God’s future is coming, even though we cannot see it.  Faith enables us to see what our eyes cannot.

The truth is that our full redemption is coming.  No circumstance can stop it.  God is with us and the truth is He is enough.  We cannot always see these two things, “but if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it” (Romans 8:25).  Our anxious longing is transformed into eager hope.

Lord, I need to shut my eyes and see with my heart!  I need to trust in Your presence in my life and Your concern for my future!  I also need to see that my future is already secure and unshakeable, even though it doesn’t look that way from here.  Awaken my heart to hope and transform my anxious heart to an eager one- longing to see what You do with me though what I am going through.  And grant me the perseverance to see it through!  Amen.

Ephesians 4:1-3 

1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

We all know deep down inside what type of person we want to become and what values we hope will define us. These desires must be shared in community. We need accountability. We also need someone who has the guts to ask us, “How are you doing with things? Do some things need to change? What are you struggling with in regards to sin or temptation?”

Why do we need people who will hold us accountable and are willing to speak the truth in love? Coasting spiritually without accountability leaves one vulnerable for their heart to be fooled. Instead of allowing God to examine our motives, we rely on our own heart to judge our behavior. This places us on a slippery slope as the prophet Jeremiah says the “heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9).

Our heart’s inclination will be towards sin and “the cravings of sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what he has and does” (1 John 2:16). It will always tell us what we want to hear. How often do we tell ourselves, “I’ll just do it this one time” or “”my ____________ doesn’t really affect anyone else?” We are experts at rationalizing our own sin. Sin thrives on privacy and darkness. However, we don’t really hide things, we simply isolate ourselves from others. We need community to reveal the lies we tell ourselves (Proverbs 15:22, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10).

But, the need for community goes deeper than tackling the deceitfulness of sin. In Ephesians 4, Paul urges his listeners to “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called “ (v.1).  This does not mean that we should try to deserve our place in God’s favor. It means that we should recognize how much our place in God’s favor deserves from us. The focus is not on our worth, but rather the worth of our calling. Because we bear the integrity of God’s image and the influence of His love, we must urge one another to walk in a manner worthy of their calling.

The challenge is to engage in such a way where others have access to stir and spur you on to reflect Christ’s heart. But, it’s not just about having people in your life who encourage you. The call is to be this kind of person for others. This begins with being mindful of the mission God has for us and considering ways you can stir others as well. Community requires mutual accountability. We engage with others for the sake of our call.

God, may I see how desperately I need to be known by others. Instead of hiding my true self, may I be willing to be vulnerable. But, help me to not stop there. May I encourage and spur others along with grace and transparency. Amen.

Acts 17:24-25

24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Throughout the Bible, we are commanded to deal with our mindset by paying attention to what our mind is focused on.  This is where we get ourselves into trouble.  We don’t set our minds on anything so it is free to drift on whatever seems to deserve the most attention. When we are faced with a difficult decision or things we cannot control, we get consumed with pressure.

Sometimes this pressure comes from within. The pressure is fueled by believing two destructive myths. First, we believe we can control more than we think. We get angry and frustrated from trying to control the things we can’t. Then there is the “messiah” myth that leads us to believe we contribute more than we actually do. If we don’t act, no one else will. If I don’t spring into action, nothing will get solved. If I don’t make the right decision, then everyone is doomed for failure.

Too often when we consider faith or trust we tend to wait and see if God will do something.  Then, and only, then will we respond to the thing that He has done.  We think of faith as “observe and decide.” This is why we are often frustrated and paralyzed in our walk with God.

Why? Because He doesn’t invite us to observe and decide, but rather to taste and see. Psalm 34:8 says,”O taste and see that the LORD is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” It is an interesting connection.  You don’t see with your tongue and you don’t taste with your eyes.

Taste and see is an invitation to experience.  You see not with your eyes, but with your being.  You see because you have experienced.  This is what God is drawing us towards.  This is exactly how faith is described in 2 Corinthians 5:7. We are told to “walk by faith, not by sight.”

According to this verse, we are called to walk by faith, at the expense of seeing with our eyes.  When the pressure is on you, you are not going to be able to sit and observe.  You have to step out and taste – then you will see.  Faith operates as the way you perceive the world around you and sense God’s work in that world.

When we walk with Him, we find Him to be a blessing to us as we take refuge in Him.  So walk by faith– taste and see. We need a new perspective in those moments when pressure is consuming us. When we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders and all we want to do is freak out, we must taste and see that Lord is good by casting our cares on Him.

God, all too often I put the weight of the world on my shoulders. But, that is not what I was meant to bear. Instead of cracking under the pressure, may I lay everything down at your feet. Amen.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18


16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 
18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

The imagery here is very pointed.  There is a comparison.  The sacrifice and the troubles here and now are laid up against the weight of the eternal.  This is incomprehensible from our perspective.  There is nothing we can experience here and now that gives us evidence of the reality that exists beyond time.  So we are given faith.  God gives us faith to realize what is set in our hearts (See Ecclesiastes 3:11).

But the key is found in verse 17.  What you see is what you get.  If you fix your eyes on everything that is wrong, you will view the world a certain way.  If you fix your eyes on everything that you wish you had and, in fact, deserve to have, it will affect the way you live.

This is why our quest is to raise our eyes above—in view of God’s mercy—and offer ourselves (See Romans 12:1-2).  This is precisely what it means to put God on display, to reflect Him.  We live our lives in response to the riches of His grace that He has poured out on us.

Our quest is to move through these ordinary moments with our eyes fixed on the extraordinary.  We must live in the temporal with our eyes on the eternal. It will change the way we deal with things here.  So let’s fix our eyes on Him. He is the author and finisher, and our lives are secure in His hands.

Lord, my eyes always want to see things with certainty.  I am prone to calculate and manipulate to fix my circumstances.  I confess that often I depend on them for my peace and my joy.  Help me to see beyond the here and now so I can measure my circumstances and struggles in light of the incredible glory of the eternal.  Remind me to prioritize my life accordingly.  Amen.