For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
The bible is filled with stories of leaders looking beyond the obvious. Two such stories illustrated Joshua’s perception of current events (see Deuteronomy 1:22-38; Joshua 5:13-6:20). How about David slaying the Giant or Peter’s visit to Cornelius’s house (Act 10:9-48) or how can we forget how Jesus looked beyond the obvious, with the raising of the little girl that was announced to be dead. “She is not dead; she is sleeping (Mark 5:39).
Let’s us not forget our modern day saints who changed the world, such as, Reverend Troy Perry who made it possible for “queer people” to embrace Christianity and believe in a living God again; or the Reverend John Shelby Spong who helps us to look beyond religion and theism to understand the love of God.
It is not necessary to only look at religious figures who challenge us to look beyond the obvious. Consider Barack Obama who fought the odds to become our first black President of these United States with the theme, “Yes We Can.” Or Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.com which has changed our methods of buying, owning and reading books, or Steve Jobs who brought Apple back from near extinction. Who can refute what the internet and the likes of social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, have done to our political landscape and to our world.
I am sure you know of people, not so famous, who have made your world a better place because they looked beyond the obvious. Let’s not be like the many birds in the picture looking in the same direction. Find the bird that’s looking in a different direction. That’s the one we often need to follow. So what do you see differently that could be changed to improve your life or those around you?
I know it’s hard when you are struggling. What have you been struggling with? Have you taken the blinders off and looked at things in a different way? You are not alone, I am trying too. As I wrestle with the obvious, I know God is asking me to look at things differently; to look beyond the obvious. I pray that you will do the same when you are faced with life’s challenges.
Dear Tony Crisp:
It is just like the good Lord to have our digital paths cross over the internet! I am originally from India, and the graduate of a Bible college in Tennessee and a seminary in Ohio, but have struggling with the results of continuous discrimination I face in churches, first to my race and nationality and now to my age. Since graduating from seminary I have applied to well over 300 churches, but always get rejected. But God wants me to be innovative and strive to be a blessing to others by keeping Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:33 as my guideline. Will you have the time to “listen” to my situation brother, and then talk to our God about the solution? I know our no matter what problems we face, God is always thinking in terms of solutions to whatever problems we face in life. Today in my daily devotional, He spoke to me through I
Corinthians 2:verse 5. In the process of writing a book on America’s presidents, since last year I bought 28 books from Amazon, and throught if I may approach Jeff Bezos for some help in getting my book published, but as I searched for more information in Jeff Bezons’ faith, I came across (or the Lord led me to)your inspiring article on leaders looking beyond the obvious. So I now entrust this email message I am sending you to our God and wait upon Him to guide our further communication.Closing in the wonderful name of Jesus, Your new found brother in Ta M. Taj
Dear Mr. M. Taj,
Your response to my post is very touching. Please note that I blog for a hobby and because this is my way of sharing God’s blessing. However, if you still like to talk, please send me your phone number to [email protected] and I will get back in touch with you within the week. God bless and I wait to hear from you.