Rather than narrow our perspective and experience, the determination of believers to affirm the Lord Jesus Christ as our life - "to live is Christ" - greatly broadens our perspective, opening our hearts to truth and reality in all things (Philippians 1:21).
"He giveth to all life and breath and all things" (Acts 17:25).
"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17).
If God comprises the environment of our being, as it were, and if "life, breath, and all things" proceed from Him, we never completely experience anything in life apart from the realization of His reality. We will live no moment in either time or eternity that is not saturated by our Lord's presence and involvement. "In Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28). Thus, we do well to embrace the belief and conviction that causes our hearts to blossom as flowers opening to the rising of the morning sun, making possible the absorbing of light, warmth, and the glory we were made to know and reflect.
This does not mean, of course, that we directly and consciously think of God in every waking moment. A mind stayed on Him does not require such continual focus. Our brains do not presently possess the capacity for dual concentration. I personally would not want the Christian architect to dwell on profound Biblical issues as he draws the blueprints for a one hundred story skyscraper. I would suggest to him, as would his Lord, "Keep your mind on the task at hand, buddy!" Genuine godliness does not require constant mental attention to God and His truth. We do, however, seek to consistently and increasingly avail ourselves of opportunities that properly present themselves to our needy hearts. Praise and thanksgiving perhaps lead the way, as our Heavenly Father's boundless generosity continually graces our lives with blessing, provision, protection, and the surpassing grace of the Lord Jesus. We also seek and avail ourselves of opportunities to make requests, intercede for others, ask for wisdom, and apply the truth of God's Word to relationships, circumstances, conditions, and events. Thereby we open our hearts and minds to the consistent rather than constant focus on our Lord for which He presently equips us. And thereby the opening of our being to Light enhances our awareness, quickens our understanding, heightens our senses, invigorates our appreciation, and intensifies our experience of life as it is. We grope in the shadows apart from such devotion to life as experienced in the wonder of God. We "walk in the light as He is in the light" as such devotion opens our hearts and minds to the truth and surpassing wonder of the Reality in which we live (I John 1:7).
Someone graces the somethings of our lives - "The whole earth is full of His glory!" (Isaiah 6:3). He graces ourselves if we have believed in the Lord Jesus - "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27). We miss much if we do not realize the fullness and hope of such glory. We miss much even if we do realize the gift of life as lived by, through, and in our blessed Lord! Today, however, and in this moment, we can open our hearts by faith to the truth and reality our Heavenly Father so fearfully and wonderfully made us to realize. We can blossom by turning to the Light we believe to be the very essence of our life and being…
"They looked unto Him, and were lightened."
(Psalm 34:5)
Weekly Memory Verse
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
(John 3:6)
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