O my people, hear my teaching, listen to the words of my mouth.
I will open my mouth in parables, things from old--what we have heard and known. Psalm 78:1-2 and Matthew 13:35
There are always 2 perspectives in life: A worldly perspective and a Godly perspective; our perspective and a Kingdom perspective. God often said to his prophets, 'What do you see?' and then the likes of Jeremiah or Amos or Isaiah would challenge the culture around them to see things differently.
Perspective is everything! Often ours is so small, whilst God's is so huge! When we see nothing but difficulty, or problem, or challenge, God sees purpose and opportunity and Kingdom destiny.
Life as it is meant to be lived only comes when we begin to see with God's Kingdom perspective. This is the perspective that Jesus brought into the world, the shocking perspective of grace, mercy, forgiveness that pervades through the parables. Jesus chose deliberately everyday situations and characters in his parables, but there was always a twist--a move away from the cultural norm, the worldly perspective, to a radical new Kingdom of God perspective.
You wouldn't have been able to listen to a parable of Jesus without having your perspective challenged! That's the same today when we dare to delve deep into the richness of some of the greatest stories ever told.
