Today during church, the Pastor said something which caught my attention and got me thinking. When Jesus’ tomb was found empty, the first reaction was to think his body had been stolen.
How do we arrive at the assumptions we do? Let’s examine this and find out.
John 20:1-2
1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the LORD out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
This is a terrific example of how we see life through our specific lens.
Mary took the facts of the situation that were undisputable, and made some pretty big assumptions! Yes, it may seem like a perfectly natural assumption to make, but it is an assumption all the same.
How often do we take the facts and automatically assume opinions, motives, or outcomes? Every day!
But why is it so automatic? I think it is because we are viewing the facts through a lens we have constructed from our past, experiences, emotions, biases, and an accumulation of many factors.
The problem here is that when using our lens, just like Mary did in the example, we are bound to make mistakes that cause us or others hurt and do not serve us or God.
So the question is how do we see things through the lens of Jesus, who is the way, truth, and life? (John 14:6)
I think this involves quite a bit of intentionality on our part.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2
As we fight against our sinful nature and lean into Jesus, we must renew our mind daily through:
- Prayer
- Reading scripture
- conversation with fellow believers who sharpen us
- bible studies
- sermons
- accountability partners who love us enough to point out our biases
- mentors
- Serving others
- rest
And guess what? When you wake up tired or just plain don’t feel like engaging with God…do it anyway.
Our emotions aren’t running the show here folks but our mind, which is what we are trying to renew! And the fascinating part is the times when we don’t feel like it the most is our cue that we need it more than ever!
Intentionality is the key. Have you set aside a time each day to focus on God? What happens when that is challenged by life’s never-ending pull and tug at us?
How do I know when I'm focusing through my own broken lense?
Let’s determine how to assess if we are using the correct lens:
- What are the indisputable facts about the situation?
- How am I interpreting these facts? What assumptions am I making (my lens)?
- Do I know that both 1 and 2 are true?
Even if an individual verifies that your assumptions are correct, how do you know that their lens is accurate and biblical?
We simply do not have the information or facts to assess many situations accurately and default to our own biases and lens.
This helps us see that we need to refocus by renewing our minds with the steps above.
When we use our lens, someone or something can suffer.
What are your “empty tomb” situations in life?
Where are you being like Mary?
Let’s look at a real-life example that may occur in your homeschool and pull this all together:
Shayna, who is 9 years old, has been increasingly distracted, wiggly, and disobedient during school. Mom’s attempts to switch up the curriculum and teach with more engaging, fun activities haven’t helped much.
Things have progressed to emotional outbursts and lots of crying. Every. Single. Day.
Mom is at the end of her rope. Assessing through her lens she determines Shayna isn’t trying hard enough. All she wants to do is build Legos all day. She can’t wait for school to be over so she can go play.
Mom is tired of the situation and getting angry because Shayna doesn’t seem to care about her school work. She is at her wit’s end and her relationship with her daughter is suffering.
We can see the facts of Shayna’s behavior, and the assumptions Mom has made. I bet some of you have already looked through your lens and assessed Shayna’s behavior completely differently!
Shayna’s mom decides to refocus and see the situation through the lens of God’s word, our ultimate truth, which has complete accuracy.
She begins praying that God will reveal to her how to help Shayna.
She starts a topical bible study on the word “patience” because she senses so much impatience in her own heart when dealing with her daughter.
She talks with a close friend from church who loves her enough to point out that she may be viewing Shayna in this light because she is angry with her husband for shirking responsibilities to go fishing frequently.
Interesting.
Then an old friend calls to catch up. She tells Shayna’s mom that she just got trained in a dyslexia treatment program through her employer. She graciously offers to meet with them and assess if dyslexia is a possible reason behind Shayna’s behavior.
God brought the perfect person to Shayna’s mom as she honored him in faithfully pursuing steps to see her situation through a biblical lens.
She had never even considered something like dyslexia before her friend called. She began to see that she had unfairly judged Shayna’s behavior based on her lens and not a biblical lens.
As she exercised patience, prayed, and reached out to other believers, more doors opened for her to have more information.
Shayna’s mom told her friend from church about receiving the helpful call. She learned that her two friends knew each other! What a small world! The church friend had encouraged the caller to reach out and reconnect.
Isn’t God amazing?
He orchestrated this whole thing!
Although this whole scenario was made up, I know you can relate to a chain of events like this at some point in your life.
God is always working in our lives!
Romans 8:28 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
This promise, for believers, doesn’t teach us that all the things we want will happen. Things God deems good for us are working in our life because we love him and are his adopted children.
There are so many life situations where we need to intentionally seek God and a view through his lens, not our own.
Pray he will reveal your empty tomb issues.
What a blessing this can benefit our homeschooling every day as we serve our children at home!
Keep taking off your lens and putting on God’s!
It will always be the clearest view!
What situations are you currently struggling to see through God’s lens? Comment below and join the conversation!