Observation
Just how good is your observation? Everywhere we go we are surrounded by information. Senses are saturated by a wide range of inputs – what we read, watch, see and hear. Under such circumstances we have difficulty seeing God at work in our lives and in what we see going on in the world. Small wonder that there are times when we wonder whether God is there or whether He cares about the world He created.
I believe we can see God at work if we look in the right way and in the right places. Surely when we look at the actions of other Christians we can see God at work changing lives and bringing salvation.
Love is Jesus’ great command to His disciples and in showing love to others we change the world and other people. Ordinary lives are made extraordinary through love and gradually this chips away at the sin that damages lives. Real change comes through the love we show to others and love both changes the giver and receiver. During our lives we have many chances to observe change being brought about by small acts of concern and kindness.
As you will see, careful observation of the world and lives around us is a great source of hope. Many examples of God at work in the world can be found if you look correctly. Every day we can find God at work round us. Now if you take the first letter of each sentence you will see how things are not always as they seem and might help you recognise how God is in everything however bleak it might seem.
David Bradshaw
August 2006