a drop of water

At small group there was this idea shared that what we do is often the best vision we have for our lives.  This is slightly different than what we would want to do with our lives (dreams) and more in touch with reality, dependent on our perception of the reality of our circumstances.  When we make a decision that someone else believes wrong or unwise, it is because they have a different vision, or perception the circumstances.  No one makes a wrong or unwise decision consciously.  I want to live under kingdom visions.  I want my decisions, my actions, my words to be based upon God’s understanding of my circumstances.  I’d like to read the Bible through, picking out visions (truth) about how life, is.

So here are a few familiar visions of what reality that I picked out from a scan of Galatians (just because it came to mind first):

• I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Gal 2:20 - I think that understanding this vision, of Christ living in me, is a life long journey, but its a vision that I want to keep at the forfront of my mind always.  I think that a lot of people sometimes wish they could live other people’s life and I believe that desire is partly rooted in our desire for self worth.  The fact that the reality of being a Christian is the that our self worth is rooted in Christ living in us, through us, and with us brings our focus back to what really matters.

• But now that you know God—or rather are known by God… Gal 4:9 - We always talk about wanting to get to know God more, when that is only half of the coin.  The reality is that maturing in faith is also about letting God know us more, about opening up the deepest part of ourselves so that God work, cleanup and restore us.

• For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Gal 5:6 [and] But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Gal 5:13-14 - Life, especially relationships to people, things, responsibilities, etc, gets complicated.  But the vision of the kingdom is that “the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”  Something I need to remember when I’m trying to figure out the best plan of action to fix this or fix that.

• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Gal 5:22-23 - Maybe the vision, the hope for life is that every one of my actions and responses to the circumstances and events of every day could be categorized into one of the these words.  Maybe not all actions and responses could be categorized in one of these words, but the world would significantly different if most did.

• Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Gal 6:2 - This vision is two fold, not only must I be more willing to carry others burdens in prayer, financially and through friendship, but I must also be willing to share my burdens in vulnerability, in humility and dependence.