A New Perspective (4)

No grasshoppers here! We have been straightened out in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ! We are sanctified; holy and without blame before him in love (Ephesians 1:4)! This is settled! It is what it is! This is who we are in Christ! Isn’t this just awesome?

Although our world is utterly lost and filled with dark and disturbing elements, I believe that God is calling us to be what He recreated us in Christ to be, so that the world may see Him! Christ is the only answer to all of man’s questions and all of humanities difficulties; but they can only see him through us, His Body.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].”

Continuing with our discussion on perspective; I’d like us to have a look at a few challenges in terms of our new perspective:

Philippians 3:20 “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ”

When the Bible talks about heaven, it is not a far off planet, or a place, or somewhere in the air, it is the dimension of the Spirit, which is more real than that which we see with our natural eyes. When Paul writes to the Corinthians he talks about the invisible which is deathless and eternal (2Corinthians 4:18). The Bible also says that we are seated with Christ in this 'invisible' dimension (Ephesians 2:6) and here in Philippians he declares that our conversation is in heaven! Wow, can you see how wonderful this is?! And that is why our perspective is from there; literally through His eyes! So let us have a look at the two spies’ perspective and what they saw in comparison to what the other ten spies saw.

Numbers 14:6-10 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes: (7) And they spoke unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land. (8) If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey. (9) Only rebel not ye against the LORD, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defense is departed from them, and the LORD is with us: fear them not. (10) But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

Did you hear that? The land is an exceedingly good land, this is God’s heart right there, He came to give us Life in abundance! And then he says something that we tend to miss: “for they are bread for us”. These giants, these enemies, the stuff that makes you feel like a grasshopper, is called our bread! When he speaks about bread, he is speaking of nourishment; literally the stuff that makes us grow.

This is such an important principle and I’d hate for you to miss it! We need to see that there will be giants in our lives, but they are there so that we can be nourished and grow (in the revelation of His power in and through us).

2Corinthians 1:9 “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead”

It is never 'because of', but always 'so that' Christ would be revealed in us and to us, so that He can also be revealed through us. The giants in the picture were there so that God could show Himself strong on the people's behalf! That the world would see that He is God! So also in your case my friend, He has shown Himself Strong so clearly in Christ; receive His Word and live in His victory! Look at your circumstances, situations and enemies from where you are in Christ! It is not possible to see yourself as a grasshopper when God sees you as His Own!

2Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.”

Please feel free to write a comment, even ask a question, in the space below. You do not even have to leave your name or be a follower- it is just my passion and desire to help you to see the impact of the Finished Work of our Lord Jesus Christ in your life! And help you to be the best you, you were made to be in His Grace.

Remember: God loves you intensely!