May 16 | Revelations 2:1-11

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DAILY READING

Revelations 2:1-11

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REFLECTION

The Forest for the Trees 

by Ken Dillman

As Christians, the old saying, “you can’t see the forest for the trees” might afflict us and we don’t even realize it.

Not being able to “see the forest for the trees” happens when we’re so focused on one or more smaller issues in our lives, that we fail to see the bigger picture of what God is doing or wants to do in our lives; our ability to self-reflect is lessened, as such, one of our biggest temptations when facing hardship, trials, and suffering is to stop focusing on Jesus and to focus on our problem.

The loss of a job, an illness, a struggling grandchild, family conflict, too many bills and not enough money each month, and other hardships tug at our affection for Christ and others.

A pastor friend of mine once recounted an experience to me in which one of his parishioner’s lost their faith in Christ because the “car of his dreams” was totaled by another driver.

That’s losing focus.

That’s not being able to see the forest that’s around me because of the tree in front of me.

In today’s text, the apostle John receives a vision from God for the seven churches in Asia, including the churches of Ephesus and Smyrna; both churches were enduring suffering, persecution, and even the prospects of death. The church at Ephesus hadn’t grown weary in their struggles, BUT in the battle, they seemed to have lost their love for Jesus, and maybe also for one another.

Suffering can cause us to turn our focus inward instead of outward.

The world and those around us don’t stop suffering when we start suffering; people still need our prayers, love, and ministry to them, even while we’re suffering.

There can be great challenges for the Christian to live within the resurrection of Christ, knowing that we are destined for suffering, perhaps some of the same suffering Jesus experienced; “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.” (Phil. 1:29)

It’s wonderful to know we are promised the resurrection, but it may not seem so wonderful to us that we’re promised suffering.

In the apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he wrote, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers,” that, “Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God…And walk in love.” (Eph. 1-5)

From the beginning, the apostle Paul’s desire was that the Ephesians’ love for Christ would be preeminent as they lived their lives in the resurrected Christ, while embracing everything he had planned for them.

In our struggle with suffering, we might be totally committed to not doing the wrong things in our lives, but we may miss doing the right thing…loving God and loving others; gradually, like the Ephesians our first love might diminish because “we can’t see the forest for the trees.”

This is all the more reason to have close friendships and relationships with other believers, people who can speak appropriately and honestly into our lives in love.

PRAYER

Father, when life is difficult and challenges are great, help us to keep our focus on loving you with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Help us to not be so focused on avoiding the wrong thing that we neglect the best thing…Jesus. Amen.

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My wife, Karen and I have been attending UALC for 6-7 years and enjoy God's presence in our gatherings. We live in Hilliard; our three adult children live in Central Ohio. I am a retired Chaplain and Pastor, and enjoy writing, walking, jogging, and listening to live music. I appreciate the opportunity to write for the church’s devotionals.