A Perspective that Points Us to the Promise

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A Perspective that Points Us to the Promise

I’m fifty-nine days into reading through the Bible this year with The Bible Recap.

Today we ended in Numbers 13, and the last seven verses were a sweet reminder to me of why we named our first two sons Joshua and Caleb.

I was also reminded that God‘s promises go far beyond names and places, because they stand the test of time throughout the ages.

At the very center of those last seven verses, we hear from Caleb, as he stands up to silence the crowd and remind them of God’s promise.

“Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’” (Numbers‬ ‭13‬:‭30‬, NIV)

The three verses prior, and the three after are full of grumbling and complaining fueled by a focus on the immediate obstacles instead of the eventual promise.

We must have a perspective that points us to the promise, and that perspective is not possible if we don’t continually remind ourselves (and each other) of the truth.

Hebrews 12:1-2 says, “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…”

Joshua and Caleb may have been in the minority among the spies, but they made trusting God a priority, and that trust helped them maintain a perspective that pointed them to the promise.

If our eyes are fixed on anything or anyone other than Jesus, we have a skewed perspective of the Gospel — so skewed that it leads us astray.

We must have a perspective that points us to the promise. Eyes that see Jesus. Eyes that see sin and those things that hinder us from seeing Him.

When our perspective is aligned with the truth of God’s Word, we can firmly stand on the foundation of His promises — steadfast and secure.

If our view of the truth is skewed ever so slightly at the source, it will be way off in the distance, leading us further away from where God intends for us to be.

We have to see past the obstacles in front of us so we don’t miss the promises beyond us.

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 17: Perspective in Trials

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Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily — Reason 17: Perspective in Trials

June 17th. Day 17 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.


Today’s reason — Perspective in Trials.


This is definitely a reason I have grown to understand more the longer I walk with God. As a new believer, I can remember being rather impatient and wanting to move as quickly as possible through trials. Don’t get me wrong, I still struggle with being patient, but I am realizing more with each thing I endure I’m not struggling FOR victory in a trial but FROM my position of victory in Christ. Now that doesn’t mean the victory will look like my humanness wants it to look, but it does mean I am a victor over, not a victim of, my trial when I am seated with Christ.


This reason also reminds me of a post I wrote a few years ago: “From SCARED to SACRED by way of the Cross.” Basically, shifting our perspective ever so slightly through the lens of the gospel can make a scary place an extremely sacred space.


Vincent has this to say about this reason to rehearse the gospel daily...


“More than anything else I could ever do, the gospel enables me to embrace my tribulations and thereby position myself to gain full benefit from them. For the gospel is the one great permanent circumstance in which I live and move; and every hardship in my life is allowed by God only because it serves His gospel purposes in me. When I view my circumstances in this light, I realize the gospel is not just one piece of good news that fits into my life somewhere among all the bad. I realize instead that the gospel makes genuinely good news out of every other aspect of my life including my severest trials. {Romans 5:1-5} The good news about my trials is that God is forcing them to bow to his gospel purposes and do good on to me by improving my character and making me more conformed to the image of Christ.” {Romans 8:28-29, James 1:2-4, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10}


Vincent finishes by saying this...


“Preaching the gospel to myself each day provides a lens through which I can view my trials in this way and see the true cause for rejoicing that exists in them. I can then embrace trials as friends and allow them to do God’s good work in me.”


I know this is a rather cliché thing to say, but when pondering today’s reading, it’s what comes to mind. When we are able to view our trials through the lens of Christ’s triumph, we see that they are for our good and for His glory.


Reminds me of an Aaron Keyes song, “Sovereign Over Us.”


There is strength within the sorrow

There is beauty in our tears

And you meet us in our mourning

With a love that cast out fear

You are working in our waiting

You're sanctifying us

When beyond our understanding

You're teaching us to trust


Your plans are still to prosper

You have not forgotten us

You're with us in the fire and the flood

You're faithful forever

Perfect in love

You are sovereign over us


You are wisdom unimagined

Who could understand your ways

Reigning high above the heavens

Reaching down in endless grace

You're the lifter of the lowly

Compassionate and kind

You surround and you uphold me

And your promises are my delight


Even what the enemy means for evil

You turn it for our good

You turn it for our good and for your glory

Even in the valley, you are faithful

You're working for our good

You're working for our good and for your glory


So, what are your thoughts, how have you gained perspective in trials through the lens of the gospel?

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