In the book of Romans, Paul states, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
This call to “change the way you think” happens with our active choice to surrender to the wisdom and presence of the Holy Spirit. He is the one that enables us to live with a new perspective.
To capture the active choice we have in the matter, consider it like this. Every new morning that God wakes us up, the first thing we need to do is reach over to our nightstand and put on our hypothetical glasses. If you actually wear real glasses you have a slight advantage. For those with 20-20 vision, you can either use your imagination or go buy some fake, hipster glasses. I like the hipster option myself.
I call these our “redemption glasses” because we see everything with the possibility and potential for redemption. In putting on these glasses, we choose to rely on the Holy Spirit and live with the mind of Christ. We choose to live each day with a perspective bent toward redemption because we know this is our ultimate future (New Heaven New Earth!) and we believe God is a redeemer. We live with a conviction that God wants to redeem the brokenness in our lives and the lives of others we encounter.
Wearing these redemption glasses, we see the messes in life as opportunity for the love of God to transform. We view weakness and insecurity as areas of potential strength through the transforming power of God. We look at the injustices in the world and believe God can bring redemption through the lives of his people.
Forgive me for the incredibly simple analogy, but I like simple. Are you looking at life through the lens of redemption? Can you see a hope and a future? Without the presence and help of God’s Spirit, I’ve never been successful at this. However, with an active choice to lean on God’s Spirit, our perspective is made new. Wear your redemption glasses.
Where are you looking for God’s redemption to break in?
