Approaching Life with a Christ-Centered Perspective
“Just you, then?”
I was making small talk with an Ace Hardware employee a few weeks back as he very kindly pushed one of my two carts full of new appliances to my car. “Yep,” I replied, grinning. “Just me and my 100-year-old house.”
That’s right, I bought a house. Me! I’ve still got a great deal of cleaning and updating to do, but I’m excited—excited to be flexing my DIY muscles, to be learning so much about home ownership, and to see what’s next in this new chapter of independence and possibility.
Yet, somewhere between the house offer and the house closing, I was briefly hit with an undeniable fear of what’s next—not coincidentally after a friend asked me a certain question.
“How long do you see yourself staying there?”
It was a very natural question for the situation, yet it completely threw me.
Would I be here for five years? Ten? Fifteen? If I finally met someone, that could change things. But who knows when that will happen—if it ever happens. Will it ever happen?! I love my job; what else would ever prompt me to move? I certainly don’t need any more space. Wait. Did I just buy the house that I’m going to grow old and die in? (Also, how does it work when you give up on finding anyone? Do you go to a shelter or do the cats just show up at your house?)
Like I said, it threw me.
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me? (Psalm 13:2)
I felt foolish. I was buying a house, for Pete’s sake. A house! What did I possibly have to be disheartened about, truly? Between the paperwork, the packing and the overall situation, everything was on track. I had the support of countless family and friends. I was just steps away from the summit of an incredible mountain of accomplishment, and one promising beautiful views of endless possibility.
Yet for weeks, I couldn’t shake it off. I was still making my way towards the top of the mountain, sure—from my perspective, though, I now saw dark, stormy clouds of uncertainty circling the peak.
But therein lay the problem: my perspective.
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:7-8)
When I consider those before me and “the outcome of their way of life,” I think of some pretty incredible sisters in faith—people with impossibly positive attitudes and Christ-centered perspectives, even in the face of uncertainty.
I think of friends facing chronic pain, yet leaping at the chance to help a neighbor in need. I think of my late grandmother, plagued by ovarian cancer for seven years, yet going out of her way during a recurrence to find a Spanish Bible for her hospital’s housekeeper. I think of a dear sister who hasn’t walked for twenty years because of a grueling car accident, yet is the first to lend encouragement when she notices you’ve lost some pep in your step.
I also think of Jesus’ disciples—who weren’t always full of pep, themselves, when it comes to trusting in God and approaching life with a Christ-centered perspective.
Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. (Mark 6:31-33)
Jesus and his apostles were exhausted. Whenever He was in Capernaum, people just didn’t leave him alone—so eager were they to see the Messiah, hear His teachings and witness His miracles.
This time around, they hadn’t even found time to eat. As a result, Jesus suggested some privacy and rest, going away by boat to a quiet place—only to be met and interrupted by thousands of people, hungry for the hope and living bread of the Savior.
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” (Mark 6:34-37)
Hearing this story as a kid, I’d marvel at the compassion and power of Jesus, sitting with the crowd and creating a feast out of just a handful of bread and fish.
As an adult, however, I often find myself examining the disciples—and, regrettably, relating to their attitude. Here they were, the traveling companions of the Son of God, enjoying front row seats to love and majesty like they’ve never seen before… yet indulging in their weariness and grumbling over how they’d ever be able to afford so much food for people they didn’t even know.
So clouded and cynical was their perspective that, for the moment, the disciples could only focus on what they didn’t have, rather than what they had right in front of them the whole time: Jesus, the Creator of the universe, the Worker of miracles, the Lord of love, the King of glory, the Bread of Life.
“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand. (Mark 6:38-44)
In the wilderness of this world, we forget God’s presence and promises. We grumble and complain about His almighty provision. Too often do we focus on earthly wants and needs, failing to rejoice in the daily giving of His grace.
And still, even in our ignorance, God sits with us—teaching us, redeeming us and refining us through our troubles and through His grace. Our Heavenly Father meets us where we are, lovingly disproving our unbelief while abundantly supplying our every need.
But it is not for our earthly comfort that He supplies our every need.
It’s not so that you can finally afford that dream house you’ve always wanted, or so that you can get that big promotion for which you’ve worked so hard. It’s not for popularity, merit or ease. It’s not to fit in at school or among your peers in the workplace. It’s not so you can finally make that Instagram post showing off your wedding ring after so many years of wanting—or that beautiful sonogram picture after so many years of waiting.
No, beloved of the Lord. It’s for faith.
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
Before feeding the 5,000, Jesus took the bread and fish, looked up to Heaven and gave thanks.
Our perspective should be the same—graciously receiving the Lord’s provisions with our eyes fixed on Heaven. Because that is where our help comes from, and because that is where we yearn to be.
I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)
Waiting to be fed by the Messiah, groups of fifties and hundreds crowded around Jesus like sheep without a shepherd, captivated by the Son of the Most High and desperately seeking from Him the food that does not spoil but lasts for everlasting life.
Again, our perspective should be the same—forever in awe of God’s glory, ever craving the only bread that will truly satisfy and ever longing for the Living Water which will become in us “a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” (John 6:26-27)
As for the disciples... Remember earlier when I explained feeling foolish for having the blessing of home ownership in front of me, yet having doubts about what the future would look like even with that blessing? I imagine the disciples felt a similar sense of foolishness—especially after Jesus had assured them they would be provided for in their journeys, instructing them to “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts” (Mark 6:8).
But praise God for His patience in using the events—and foolhardiness—of our lives to teach us great faith. The disciples would still have their moments, sure; but more and more did they find reason to trust in Jesus and believe in His sovereignty. Not long after witnessing the miracle of Jesus feeding the 5,000 (and His walking on water shortly after), this eager faith would lead the disciples to implore their Teacher, “Sir, always give us this bread.”
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
“Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. (John 6:32-39)
My dear Christian Sisters, our perspective should be the same. Because perspective is so more than just a “glass half full or glass half empty” mindset. It’s more than just pep in your step, and more than just looking on the bright side.
It is our daily view of salvation in Heaven—the unwavering goal we press towards “to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
(Hebrews 12:1-3)
Hearth and home, friendship and family, love and purpose—these are wonderful things to dream about and hope for.
But if we want to have enduring hope for everlasting life while living on this fickle, fallen earth, then we better make well sure that our perspective is relative not to the world—but to the Word. For it is not in our changing circumstances that we find true peace and contentment, but in our unchangeable God.
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. (Hebrews 6:19)
A year, a decade, maybe longer… I don’t know how long I’ll be in this house. Those stormy clouds of uncertainty? Oh, they’ll be back. But I have just to lift my gaze heavenward to feel the warmth of the Son in my heart. I might not know what the future holds, but I know who holds me—and in that Gospel truth, I have great faith.
--
My Shepherd will supply my need, Jehovah is His name,
In pastures fresh He makes me feed beside the living stream;
He brings my wandering spirit back when I forsake His way,
And leads me for His mercy's sake in paths of truth and grace.
“My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” CW 374