Expanding Our Horizons

by David Gibson

Years ago, Reader’s Digest published an article by a woman who told how she and her family decided one day to make a game of looking for Volkswagen Bugs as they traveled. It was amazing how many they saw--back when VW Bugs were much more common.

Isn’t it fascinating how the human mind works? When we begin focusing on certain things in our surroundings, we tend to find them, whether the color green, quiet background noises, or even the blessings we tend to take for granted.

When we decide to count our blessings, how many will we find? That’s like asking how many stars we can see.

Some blessings are not obvious because they are spiritual in nature or because they are disguised as problems. One of the most meaningful passages for Christians is this one: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28 NASB).

Have you ever had a horrible experience but later saw great good in it? Through the lens of Scripture, we can view life from God’s perspective and see things we would never otherwise know.

We learn that God is in control, that He loves us, that He is the source of all our blessings, that we are here for a noble purpose, and that He has much greater blessings to offer if we fulfill the purpose for which He made us and redeemed us. How could we ever make sense of life without these and other insights? How could we see?

The complainer doesn’t see. The discontented person doesn’t see. The embittered individual doesn’t see. The person who constantly grabs for more material things doesn’t see. The ingrate doesn’t see.

I want to see!!! Don’t you?