WEDNESDAY's WORD - TUNNEL VISION - 03/16/16 Sadell Bradley - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

Tunnel Vision is constriction of the visual field resulting in loss of peripheral vision.  It is a medical condition in which you can see things that are straight ahead of you, but not to the side. Figuratively, tunnel vision is extreme narrowness of viewpoint (narrow-mindedness), a tendency to think only about one thing and to ignore everything else that it affects. One might think single-minded focus on one objective would be a positive trait.  However, tunnel vision is actually a defect in sight that is limiting. To be narrow-minded means that you are unwilling to accept opinions, beliefs or behaviors that are unusual or different from your own; that you... "can't see the forest for the trees."

Both Paul and Peter were completely socialized in Jewish customs and traditions before Jesus got a hold of them. On the road to Damascus in Acts 9, Saul had previously been threatening and murdering Christ's disciples for heresy. His extreme narrowness of viewpoint was challenged and changed by Jesus: "As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?...Who are you, Lord? Saul asked, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting, he replied." (vs. 4-5) Never in a million years would Saul have thought his viewpoint was anything less than absolutely right...much less that he was hurting the God he'd given his life to serve. He thought he was protecting the Lord's reputation when he was ruining it. He had a call to love and minister to the very people he'd rejected.  

In Acts 10, Peter's tunnel vision was confronted. God spoke simultaneously to him and to an Italian named Cornelius that they were to meet despite the fact that this association across racial and religious lines was forbidden. Upon the group's arrival Peter said, "You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate or visit with a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean." (vs. 28) "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right." (vs.34-35) Peter preached Christ to those he had previously shunned. While he was still speaking the Holy Spirit came upon them all, (vs. 44) they were baptized and filled with God's Spirit.  Are you open to God challenging and changing your tunnel vision about something/someone if it fails to agree with His Kingdom purposes?

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