LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - 5
LENTEN SEASON 2022 WEEKLY DEVOTION - 5
“You planned something bad for me,
but God produced something good from it,
in order to save the lives of many people,
just as God’s doing today.”
(Genesis 50:20 The Common English translation)
When one has perfect vision it is considered to be 20/20. Many people wear glasses and/or contacts to achieve this “perfect” vision. But sometimes age and/or disease causes the vision to become less than the perfect 20/20. Near- or farsightedness creeps in, sensitivity to, glaucoma, cataracts or other challenges cause the eyesight to be less than the perfect 20/20. All of them (and so many more that are not named here) are judged by the 20/20 standard that is considered “perfect”.
On our faith journey we might look at “perfect vision” from another perspective… possibly 50/20!!?? In the passage above from Genesis we hear the turning point in the story of Joseph and his brothers. They had intended to do him harm because they did not appreciate his ability to see more of the “big picture of life”. Joseph was labeled as a “dreamer” and his brothers concocted a plan to destroy him. At this point in the story, a famine has taken over the land and destroyed everything. As a last resort, the brothers go to a place where the inhabitant is known to be well off and well supplied and the famine has had little affect. The brothers did not know that it was Joseph who held the key to their future! Long story short, Joseph extends grace and mercy to his brothers with the affirmation in Genesis 50:20.
Life sometimes challenges our perspective, our patience and our peace of mind. But if we step back and refocus we will find that we just need to take a look from a different perspective. Adjust our vision so that it becomes 50/20 and sees God’s bigger picture instead of what is in front of us. Life’s challenges are there to give us the opportunity to adjust our vision and focus on God. Instead of striving for 20/20 vision that gives you a limited perspective that sometimes focuses on the challenge or the person(s) involved, try working toward the 50/20 vision that is God centered and God dependent. It might change how you see things!!!
Prayer: All-knowing God, when our lives are turned upside down and we are at the end of our rope, teach us to look to you and full depend on you for all things. Give us 50/20 vision to see that others may intend bad for us, but you always are looking for the best for us!! Amen.