A few years back, my optometrist discovered cataracts in both my eyes. So, we scheduled the appropriate surgery. Part of the preparation was the choosing of the right lens to implant.
Those intraocular lenses bend or refract the light rays going into our eyes and they “fix” the old lens that is distorting our vision.
Modern medicine uses those implanted lenses to sharpen up the focus, enrich the colors our eyes see and force our eyeball to maintain a certain healthy shape.
Spiritually, I am thinking that the lens of mission does some of those same things.
When we view the world through a spiritual lens, we more clearly see our part of the great commandment: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
With the right lens in place, pursuing the heart of God becomes easier.
But a cloudy lens, produces a cloudy focus. With a broken or missing lens, we lose perspective. And with a useless lens, we end up with a useless life.
So, this week might be an excellent opportunity to do some self-evaluation. Is God’s mission for my life clear? Am I pursuing that mission with a pure heart? Do I keep my focus on His plan, His perspective, and His priorities? Am I embracing moments of correction?
As we heard Sunday, purity helps us be productive. Whether we are subject to God’s pruning or His purifying fire, we can have confidence that He is at work in us. And that work will demonstrate to the world that Jesus is the Lord.
Keeping our spiritual lenses clean and clear takes effort. But that effort allows us to be effective and powerful as we follow Him and accomplish His mission.
Those intraocular lenses bend or refract the light rays going into our eyes and they “fix” the old lens that is distorting our vision.
Modern medicine uses those implanted lenses to sharpen up the focus, enrich the colors our eyes see and force our eyeball to maintain a certain healthy shape.
Spiritually, I am thinking that the lens of mission does some of those same things.
When we view the world through a spiritual lens, we more clearly see our part of the great commandment: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
With the right lens in place, pursuing the heart of God becomes easier.
But a cloudy lens, produces a cloudy focus. With a broken or missing lens, we lose perspective. And with a useless lens, we end up with a useless life.
So, this week might be an excellent opportunity to do some self-evaluation. Is God’s mission for my life clear? Am I pursuing that mission with a pure heart? Do I keep my focus on His plan, His perspective, and His priorities? Am I embracing moments of correction?
As we heard Sunday, purity helps us be productive. Whether we are subject to God’s pruning or His purifying fire, we can have confidence that He is at work in us. And that work will demonstrate to the world that Jesus is the Lord.
Keeping our spiritual lenses clean and clear takes effort. But that effort allows us to be effective and powerful as we follow Him and accomplish His mission.
Sherry Worel
Sherry Worel is a Bible teacher at heart and lives a life of ministry. She’s been involved at Coast Hills teaching Women’s LIFE, Bible studies, online courses, devotionals, participating in Upstream conversations, and much more. Having a love for education, Sherry has over 50 years of teaching experience with schools, churches, and mission agencies. As well as earning her Master’s at Talbot Seminary, she rounded out her education with 35 years as Head of School at Stoneybrooke Christian School. Sherry is happiest with a book or fishing pole in hand.