Monday, January 7, 2013

Day Seven: Perspective




The WORD of the Day:

"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go...I will not leave you." 
--Genesis 28:15

Let Me Give You a Lift:

Ever feel you're the only person doing what is right in a sea of people doing something wrong? I certainly have. When lots of people were cheating on tests (and getting better grades!) when I wouldn't. When clients wanted me to cut corners and I wouldn't so they went to someone who would. We all run across such things. In our businesses, in our schools, in our communities--there are always people for whom the end justifies any means. And when our trying to do what is right is an impediment to the sought end, it can  be a less than pleasant experience. 

It's hard to be out there on the limb all alone! Has that thought crossed your mind? Why do I bother? What difference does it make what I do?  When those thoughts pop into my head, it helps me to think about a story from the Old Testament. 

In the book of 2 Kings chapter 6, (which I'm paraphrasing here) the King of Syria was at war with the King of Israel. Although the King of Syria had a vast army, he could not capture the King of Israel because the prophet Elisha warned the King of Israel whenever the King of Syria laid a trap for him so he could avoid it. The King of Syria was furious, thinking there must be a spy in his midst. "Who among us is for the King of Israel?" he asked. "None, his servants said, but there is a man of God who is able to tell the King of Israel your plans."

Now even more furious, the King of Syria sent a huge army to seize Elisha, and the army surrounded the entire city. Elisha's young servant saw this and was terrified. (And here I'm quoting):
And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  
Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of  horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
You can guess who won that battle. 

The Bible is chock full of passages like today's scripture about how we are never alone, and how God is always there for us. And of course, they can provide us with great comfort. But sometime what we really need is a visual to drive it home. 

So the next time you are striving to do what is right and you feel overwhelmed by influences that would persuade you otherwise; the next time you feel discouraged at the state of the world in general, or heartache about something happening to you or someone you know; when you feel deeply alone, think about that angel army. You are never really alone. And you don't have to wage your battles on your own. 

Give it a Listen:

The song for today is Chris Tomlin's "Whom Then Shall I Fear". The song centers around the idea we've been talking about: perspective. Part of the chorus states: "the God of angel armies is always by my side."  What you need today might not be an angel army, but whatever it is, He is there and can surely provide it.  





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