Tuesday Morning Prayer – April 09, 2024
This morning, I want to share a devotional thought with you on seeing life from God’s Perspective
The devotional today:
“Seeing Life from a Better Vantage Point”
Attending a parade can be quite an exciting adventure especially when you were little.
Standing at street level, the first thing that usually catches your attention is the music. Perhaps it’s the endearing sound of the bagpipes, the mellow sound of the trombones or the rhythmic beat of the steel drums.
But the parade would be so much more enjoyable, if you were able to see above the crowds.
Then all of a sudden, your dad lifts you on top of his shoulders, and oh, what a difference this makes to the enjoyment of the parade.
You are no longer catching small glimpses through the legs of the adults; now from your new vantage point, atop your Father’s shoulders, you are able to see things as they really are.
Isn’t that very much like life?
Sometimes it’s hard to grasp the meaning of your life from where you stand.
You look around you, and you see all the inequalities and the injustices in the world, and you wonder if there is any fairness to this life. You just want to throw your arms in the air, and ask; What’s the use in trying anyway
It’s a fair question, especially when you see those who seem to defy God and are living arrogant and selfish lives, prospering in this world. Apparently, getting by quite effortlessly.
So, if you have such questions like, “What’s the use in trying anyway?” You are not alone! There was this biblical character named Asaph who was a praise & worship leader in the Sanctuary in Jerusalem.
One day as he was probably getting ready to go to worship, something crossed his mind that disturbed him greatly.
So, he put his thoughts down on paper, which we now know as Psalms 73. He started off by saying:
“Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills.” (Ps. 73:1-5)
In Psalm 73, Asaph is appalled at the apparent injustices he sees in the world, and he is conflicted by God’s apparent lack of concern.
This observation had almost caused him to lose his foothold on reality and about the goodness of God.
There was firestorm of frustration burning within his heart, and it was hard to keep it under control.
On this particular day, as if hit by a bolt of lightning, he suddenly looks around, and seeing all the inequities and injustices, the illness, the needs that were afflicting God’s people, he must have thought;
Is God really that Good? If He were, why doesn’t He do something about it?
From Asaph’s knowledge of the Scriptures, he expects –
“God will guard the feet of His faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness.”
So, naturally he is angry that God doesn’t seem to be rewarding the wicked according to what their deeds deserved.
He finds it deeply disturbing that the wicked appears to live such blessed lives.
When we lose perspective about whose we are, we will often come to the wrong conclusions.
Asaph came to the wrong conclusions about a few things.
He began to think that he had kept his heart pure in vain and that his hands, which he had considered innocent, were kept that way in vain. Asaph rationalized (Vs 13-16)
Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply.
Asaph was doubting his faith, and believing his doubts!
How do you handleyour discouragements?
As a leader, Asaph doesn’t want to say anything that would discourage or upset his congregation. But his faith was in crisis.
He said;
If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply.
But Asaph’s perspective on this whole matter was renewed, when he changed his position from watching the parade through the ‘legs of the crowd,’ as it were, to atop the shoulders of his Father God.
From this new vantage point, Asaph could see things much clearer.
Asaph said;
“It wasn’t until I entered the Sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny. Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin.” How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors! They are like a dream when one awakes; when you arise, Lord, you will despise them as fantasies.” (Ps. 73:17-20)
In the Sanctuary, Asaph’s perspective changed.
We are not told what it was, but in the Sanctuary, Asaph had an epiphany that transformed his doubt-filled cynicism back to faith-filled hope.
Asaph has been given a new perspective on the whole situation.
Here at last, Asaph looks at God, gets his eyes off the world and himself, and he focuses upward.
As he’s focusing on God, his thinking changes. His perspective shifts to the eternal.
So, I ask us all to do the same thing as well this morning.
Let God reveal to us, the unstable place on which the wicked stand.
They stand on slippery ground. And their end is nothing to be desired.
Like a dream that disappears when one awakes, so all their wicked schemes will become just fantasies.
In the Sanctuary you will discover, that it is not all about us! – About our feelings.
But about the inseparable connection that exists between God and us – A covenant love that will “never let you go.”
You see, the Sanctuary is not just a building, but a Covenant Community.
When we get together like this, we are in the Sanctuary of God, as Jesus says. Because, it’s in Community where our faith blossoms and grows.
Seeing things from God’s Perspective, usually changes our mindset from the temporal to the eternal – from earthly to heavenly.
Here at last, Asaph looks at God, gets his eyes off the world and himself, and he focuses upward. What he sees causes him to say to God:
“You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Ps. 73: 24-26).
Like Asaph, are you experiencing a firestorm of discontent and frustration with the situations that you see all around you or that you are experiencing yourself?
It may be because you have the wrong perspective. Try seeing things from God’s perspective!
Because when you do, it will dispel spiritual blindness, and allow the light of God’s Holy presence to settle the deal for you once and for all.
With the eternal perspective gained at the Sanctuary, Asaph now understands and sees what the end would be for those who are arrogant toward God. They will perish.
Are you having a firestorm of frustration in your heart? Then let’s have a little talk with Jesus this morning.
Let the light of God’s Holy presence settle the deal for you, once and for all.
Then You will conclude that indeed, God is good and that He has your best interest at heart.
Because if He didn’t, why would He have given us such a rich and enduring promise?
If He (God) did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? (Rom. 8:32)
May the Lord bless you and give you a new perspective about your life today, as you see things from His vantage point.
So, as we go to prayer this morning, let us find new hope and strength through the resurrected Lord.