The Proper Perspective

Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ . . .
—2 Corinthians 2:14

How we view things is so essential for our lives - one sees dark the other sees light, one sees good and the other sees only bad, one can see a preferable future, while the other believes life will never change.
Today's bible reading reminded me of perspective and viewpoint -
Acts 20:32 - 38 32"Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33I have not coveted anyone's silver or gold or clothing. 34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. 35In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' " 36When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. (NIV)
Paul had a proper perspective about life and ministry and his calling.
Paul committed those he loved to God and God's word of grace.
Paul knew the power the word had to build people up in a broken world.
Paul's perspective was not on coveting the wealth of others.
Paul was a hard working and dedicated leader whose perspective for life was driven by the remembrance of His Lord - who gave His own life and who spoke: It is more blessed to give than to receive." This too is a matter of perspective.
How do we see our lives, our time, our resources? With a God filled perspective or a human perspective?
Proper perspective is essential. To that end I share with you today's devotion from Oswald Chambers -
The proper perspective of a servant of God must not simply be as near to the highest as he can get, but it must be the highest. Be careful that you vigorously maintain God’s perspective, and remember that it must be done every day, little by little. Don’t think on a finite level. No outside power can touch the proper perspective.
The proper perspective to maintain is that we are here for only one purpose— to be captives marching in the procession of Christ’s triumphs. We are not on display in God’s showcase— we are here to exhibit only one thing— the "captivity [of our lives] to the obedience of Christ" ( 2 Corinthians 10:5 ). How small all the other perspectives are! For example, the ones that say, "I am standing all alone, battling for Jesus," or, "I have to maintain the cause of Christ and hold down this fort for Him." But Paul said, in essence, "I am in the procession of a conqueror, and it doesn’t matter what the difficulties are, for I am always led in triumph." Is this idea being worked out practically in us? Paul’s secret joy was that God took him as a blatant rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive— and that became his purpose. It was Paul’s joy to be a captive of the Lord, and he had no other interest in heaven or on earth. It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory. We should belong so completely to the Victor that it is always His victory, and "we are more than conquerors through Him . . ." ( Romans 8:37 ).
"We are to God the fragrance of Christ . . ." ( 2 Corinthians 2:15 ). We are encompassed with the sweet aroma of Jesus, and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.

May our lives follow God - and may our perspective be glorifying to Him.
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