Understanding the Big Picture

“You could have gotten a bigger truck!”

“But you told me to save money.”

“So, saving a few dollars on a truck was more important than bringing the whole car?”

“Well…”

Understanding the big picture is important.

You know the saying, “You can’t see the forest for the trees.” That generally means you miss the larger picture because you are too focused on the details.

Has that ever happened to you?

It happens to me all the time. I’m notorious for focusing on either what I think is important or what is immediately on my mind and missing more significant issues. I’ve misread instructions because I was concerned about one step more than others. Another bad habit of mine is reading into situations a bias based on my experiences or what I think I know about a situation.

As we celebrate Christmas, I want to remind us to keep the big picture in mind.

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As part of my devotions, I am re-reading “The Cost of Discipleship” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Early in the chapter on The Call to Discipleship, Bonhoeffer talks about Jesus calling His disciples. He specifically talks about the call to Levi (commonly known as Matthew). The call is straightforward.

“As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” And he got up and followed Him.” (Mark 2:14, NASB)

We might get drawn into some of the details of this short verse. None of which are bad, misleading, or contrary to God’s Word. For instance, we see Levi is a tax collector. We know tax collectors were despised by many due to their practice of collecting extra money for their benefit. We learn Jesus can call and use even those despised by the world.

Also, Levi was sitting in his tax booth when Jesus walked by. He was simply busy at work. There was no appointment that we know of. No early warning. No clues that he would be called to serve the Messiah. We learn we need to always be ready for Jesus’ call.

And finally, Levi immediately got up and followed Jesus. He didn’t ask for extra time, reasons for the call, or terms of assignment. He got up and followed Him. We learn by example we need to respond when Jesus calls.

All of those are great lessons, but they are the details, the trees. The big picture, the forest, is Jesus.

Bonhoeffer says the reason for all the details is the big picture, Jesus Christ himself. “It is Jesus who calls, and because it is Jesus, Levi follows at once. This encounter is a testimony to the absolute, direct, and unaccountable authority of Jesus.”¹

This Christmas season let’s rest in our hope, Jesus. Let’s remember amid the church services (on-line or in-person), family gatherings (as limited as they may be), volunteer opportunities, and TV Christmas shows, that our focus should be on the one who calls and demands a response—Jesus.

What do you do to make sure you see the big picture?

Today’s feature photo comes from a “photo-a-day” challenge I pursued several years ago. The photo inspires the topic. For me, the posts challenge my creativity, writing discipline, and dependence on God for His message. My prayer is that you find hope in God’s Word, and that you’ll share your hope with others.

¹Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship (New York: TOUCHSTONE, 1959), 57.