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Seeing the Big Picture

Writer's picture: chris784chris784

Updated: Aug 21, 2019

If we could see life -- not just our individual lives, but everyone and everything all around us -- the way God does, it would hugely change how we respond to and interact in every situation that we encounter. No longer would we tend to be so self-centered and short-sighted, just seeing how some person affects us or perhaps one of our loved ones. No longer would we see only the immediate or short-run implications of a particular moment. We would have a much, much wider horizon -- able to see truly how all the other people involved are impacted one way or another by the situation. Furthermore, we would be able to see the long-term, even eternal, ramifications resulting from the situation.


If you could see all that, I have no doubt you would think differently, speak differently and act differently. And as overwhelming as it might seem to take in all that “input,” wouldn’t it be thrilling and satisfying to think, say and do the very best thing in every situation?


No more “I wish I had thought of ...”, “I wish I had said ...”, “I wish I had done ...”. No more having to go back and ask for forgiveness or setting things right. Wow! How great would that be?! Think of the great peace and contentment that would give!


So what is God aiming at? What is God trying to accomplish in you and me, once we have received His gift of forgiveness and new life through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit? From that point on, what is God’s goal? What is His highest aim in this life? If we would let Him, what would His finished work in you and me look like, this side of heaven?


Over the years, I’ve heard many Christian men express this question one way or another.


Often it is this way: “What does God want from me?” And if they can’t articulate an answer in a way that is useful in practice, how can they intentionally pursue it or have any sense of progress toward it? Aren’t they left on the spiritual treadmill, with no more strategy than “just show up and hope something good happens”?


Well, I for one have not been content to settle for that. After all, is that what we see in Jesus’ ministry? No! Is that what it He means when He says, “Go and make disciples”? I don’t think so!

Next time, let’s look a little deeper at how some people express this question about God’s highest aim for our lives.

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