Our True Vision

Intro - Short series looking at some of my ideas of the fundamentals of following. Good starting points for a faith Journey.

Vision, Voice, Vocation, Passion, Heart

Intro - Short series looking at some of my ideas of the fundamentals of following. Good starting points for a faith Journey.

Today, we will be looking at Vision. What is our vision? When we look at our life, what we do, what we are, what we want to be, through what lens do we see ourselves?

Vision, Voice, Vocation, Passion, Heart

Today, we will be looking at Vision. What is our vision? When we look at our life, what we do, what we are, what we want to be, through what lens do we see ourselves?

And make no mistake, we all see our lives through some lens. Maybe through the lens of our jobs, or our perceived identity. Maybe some of us see our lives through the expectations of our friends or social groups. No matter what the influence, though, we all look at what happens around us through the lens of our own choosing.

[pic of moms] But today reminds us that even though we might view our life through the dark lens of the world around us, that hasn’t always been the case. You see, today we celebrate our Moms, the ones who first gave us a vision of ourselves. Those gifts from God who for a good portion of our lives served as the lens through which we see the world. The ones who told us we could do it, and we believed it. The ones who told us we were strong, or graceful; beautiful or handsome. They reminded us that we were talented and smart. They supported our hobbies, nurtured our interests and growth. They interpreted all that happened to us, and all that we thought of ourselves in such a way as to remind us of the truth of every situation. They were, and still may be for some of us, the lens through which we viewed the world.

And make no mistake, we all see our lives through some lens. Maybe through the lens of our jobs, or our perceived identity. Maybe some of us see our lives through the expectations of our friends or social groups. No matter what the influence, though, we all look at what happens around us through the lens of our own choosing.

[pic of moms] But today reminds us that even though we might view our life through the dark lens of the world around us, that hasn’t always been the case. You see, today we celebrate our Moms, the ones who first gave us a vision of ourselves. Those gifts from God who for a good portion of our lives served as the lens through which we see the world. The ones who told us we could do it, and we believed it. The ones who told us we were strong, or graceful; beautiful or handsome. They reminded us that we were talented and smart. They supported our hobbies, nurtured our interests and growth. They interpreted all that happened to us, and all that we thought of ourselves in such a way as to remind us of the truth of every situation. They were, and still may be for some of us, the lens through which we viewed the world.

In short, we are who we are, and think how we think is some part due to our Mothers.

And today, with a grateful heart, we say thank you to all who have been, or ever will be a mother figure to someone. Whether you bare a child, adopt, foster, teach, mentor - if you care for anyone as a mother would, or will one day do so, Thank you. We praise God for you.

In short, we are who we are, and think how we think is some part due to our Mothers.

And today, we praise God for you doubly, because you serve as the example that reminds us of God’s truth for us from our text for today.

And today, with a grateful heart, we say thank you to all who have been, or ever will be a mother figure to someone. Whether you bare a child, adopt, foster, teach, mentor - if you care for anyone as a mother would, or will one day do so, Thank you. We praise God for you.

And today, we praise God for you doubly, because you serve as the example that reminds us of God’s truth for us from our text for today.

Pray

Luke 24:13–16 NRSV

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

*main take away* - they were kept from recognizing Him. It was their thoughts, their logic and reason, their viewing life through a lens they could understand that caused them not to recognize Jesus

17-21

*main take away* - they were kept from recognizing Him. It was their thoughts, their logic and reason, their viewing life through a lens they could understand that caused them not to recognize Jesus

Luke 24:17–21 NRSV

And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place.

*main take away* - when you view life through your own lens, you fail to see the true miraculous nature of Jesus.

17-21

*main take away* - when you view life through your own lens, you fail to see the true miraculous nature of Jesus.

22-24

Luke 24:22–24 NRSV

Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.”

*main take away* - Sometimes, even when the truth has been made apparent to us, we still fail to believe because we are still looking with our own eyes!

25-27

*main take away* - Sometimes, even when the truth has been made apparent to us, we still fail to believe because we are still looking with our own eyes!

Luke 24:25–27 NRSV

Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

Luke 24:25-27

*main take away* - Even when we fail, even when we refuse to see the world through His eyes, Jesus reminds us that He alone can interpret scripture. He alone can interpret our lives! His words, His thoughts, His life, they supercede everything else we know!

[pichere] But church, understand that even though Jesus explained everything to them - and from time to time us - They still didn’t know this was Jesus! After all that He had said, after all that they had seen, and through all of their hopes, they still couldn't tell this was Jesus! And church, they couldn’t tell because they were using the wrong lens! They wanted to see Jesus a certain way. He does certain things, has certain opinions, takes certain social issues - whatever - but that is looking through our own eyes! If we would just look at everything, scripture, our situations, the world around us, with the eyes of Jesus, we would begin to see Jesus in everything that there is!

*main take away* - Even when we fail, even when we refuse to see the world through His eyes, Jesus reminds us that He alone can interpret scripture. He alone can interpret our lives! His words, His thoughts, His life, they supercede everything else we know!

[pichere] But church, understand that even though Jesus explained everything to them - and from time to time us - They still didn’t know this was Jesus! After all that He had said, after all that they had seen, and through all of their hopes, they still couldn't tell this was Jesus! And church, they couldn’t tell because they were using the wrong lens! They wanted to see Jesus a certain way. He does certain things, has certain opinions, takes certain social issues - whatever - but that is looking through our own eyes! If we would just look at everything, scripture, our situations, the world around us, with the eyes of Jesus, we would begin to see Jesus in everything that there is!

But they couldn’t, just as we can’t sometimes.

It turns out, you can’t be forced to see God, nor can you force others to see God. You can elaborate on all the scripture you want, and sure, you might convince someone of some truth, but you won’t really be able to show them Jesus that way. I say that, because Jesus didn’t either!

But they couldn’t, just as we can’t sometimes.

It turns out, you can’t be forced to see God, nor can you force others to see God. You can elaborate on all the scripture you want, and sure, you might convince someone of some truth, but you won’t really be able to show them Jesus that way. I say that, because Jesus didn’t either!

30-31

Luke 24:30–31 NRSV

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.

30-31

No, it wasn’t until they spent some time alone. Until they broke bread together. Church, it was only when they accepted the body of Christ, the bread of heaven, that they recognized Him. It wasn’t until they had a relationship, it wasn’t until they were invested in HIm and He in them - it wasn’t until then that they saw the world through the eyes of their Savior, and He became alive to them.

And so to us as well. When we look at our neighbor as Jesus looks at them, we find Him there. When we look at those who think differently, love differently, look differently as the Father looks at His children, we find Christ. And just like our Moms, when we see in us, what He sees in us, we become whole.

And not just we. Everyone. As we walk along the roads of life, we are called to see this world through the eyes of Jesus, the eyes of love made flesh. To love everyone passionately. To want the best for all people, even our enemies. And to understand that everything we see is created and loved by our Father in Heaven.

And so to us as well. When we look at our neighbor as Jesus looks at them, we find Him there. When we look at those who think differently, love differently, look differently as the Father looks at His children, we find Christ. And just like our Moms, when we see in us, what He sees in us, we become whole.

And not just we. Everyone. As we walk along the roads of life, we are called to see this world through the eyes of Jesus, the eyes of love made flesh. To love everyone passionately. To want the best for all people, even our enemies. And to understand that everything we see is created and loved by our Father in Heaven.

[pic of ptolemy and galileo] I want to end on a different note. A challenge if you will. You see, the lens through which we see the world is so important, so integral to our existence that if we change it, we change the way we see everything.

[talk about that stuff] Ptolemy=~150 AD=Earth center----Copernicus=~1500AD=Heliocentric

[pic of ptolemy and galileo] I want to end on a different note. A challenge if you will. You see, the lens through which we see the world is so important, so integral to our existence that if we change it, we change the way we see everything.

[talk about that stuff] Ptolemy=~150 AD=Earth center----Copernicus=~1500AD=Heliocentric

...when they changed the way they viewed the universe, they changed more than a thousand years of thought. They changed all of science. And in fact, they changed life on earth as we know it!

[verse 32] And the same is true for us. How do you view your life? Through your eyes? Through the eyes of social media, or success, or your friends? Through the eyes of some invisible ideal for life that has nothing to do with God? Why not view it through the eyes of the one who loves you most. Through the eyes of your Savior, and Heavenly Father. Because when we do that. When we see the world through His eyes, it changes everything. And that change - the kind of change that burns in our hearts - will spread from us and become the vision for this world. But that all starts with us, on our journey, on our road to Emmaus. Here in this moment in our hearts. We must choose to make Christ the lens for scripture, the lens for our lives, for our moments - we must choose to make Him our true vision of all that we are.

Luke 24:32 NRSV

They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?”

[verse 32] And the same is true for us. How do you view your life? Through your eyes? Through the eyes of social media, or success, or your friends? Through the eyes of some invisible ideal for life that has nothing to do with God? Why not view it through the eyes of the one who loves you most. Through the eyes of your Savior, and Heavenly Father. Because when we do that. When we see the world through His eyes, it changes everything. And that change - the kind of change that burns in our hearts - will spread from us and become the vision for this world. But that all starts with us, on our journey, on our road to Emmaus. Here in this moment in our hearts. We must choose to make Christ the lens for scripture, the lens for our lives, for our moments - we must choose to make Him our true vision of all that we are.

Because when you do that, church, you can’t help but live differently. You can’t help but treat the world differently. You can’t help but to love everyone you see just as God loves them. There is suddenly no difference, no walls, no barriers between peoples - not when we view our lives and everyone we see through the eyes of Christ! We just see children of God, in need of love and acceptance, just like us. We see what our Mother’s see - endless possibility. Endless promise. The hope of all creation - the spark of Christ that lives in everyone. Just as our Mom’s were our vision, we must make Christ our true vision as we bring His vision and love into the world.

And the same is true for us. How do you view your life? Through your eyes? Through the eyes of social media, or success, or your friends? Through the eyes of some invisible ideal for life that has nothing to do with God? Why not view it through the eyes of the one who loves you most. Through the eyes of your Savior, and Heavenly Father. Because when we do that. When we see the world through His eyes, it changes everything. And that change - the kind of change that burns in our hearts - will spread from us and become the vision for this world. But that all starts with us, on our journey, on our road to Emmaus. Here in this moment in our hearts. We must choose to make Christ the lens for scripture, the lens for our lives, for our moments - we must choose to make Him our true vision of all that we are.

[invitation]

Because when you do that, church, you can’t help but live differently. You can’t help but treat the world differently. You can’t help but to love everyone you see just as God loves them. There is suddenly no difference, no walls, no barriers between peoples - not when we view our lives and everyone we see through the eyes of Christ! We just see children of God, in need of love and acceptance, just like us. We see what our Mother’s see - endless possibility. Endless promise. The hope of all creation - the spark of Christ that lives in everyone. Just as our Mom’s were our vision, we must make Christ our true vision as we bring His vision and love into the world.

[invitation]