I recently reread Stu Weber’s “Tender Warrior.”  He was Special Forces in Vietnam before going into the ministry.  For anyone interested, it’s a terrific self- or group-study on being a godly man.  Well, actually it’s a terrific self- or group-study on being a godly man whether you’re interested or not.  But it did bring some new thoughts to mind.

When we first moved to Michigan, after decades in Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida, we got the standard, “You ain’t from around here, are ya?”  People thought the same of Jesus.  But not because of His accent.

My guess is Jesus didn’t sound like Dr. Phil or Ryan Seacrest.  Probably more like James Earl Jones or Sam Elliott.  And He spoke with authority.  Where did this trait come from?

After Jesus was baptized, He spent 40 days in the wilderness before starting His earthly ministry.  This was a time of preparation for what was ahead.  It was a time for Him to gain clarity.  Focus.  It was not just a camping trip.  It was not a retreat.  This wilderness experience was His survival training.  It was SEAL training.  To See Everything As Lord; as the Father does.  Can we?

1 Corinthians 2:16 says we have the mind of Christ if the Spirit of God is in us.  But we have to be open to receiving that reality to be able to tap into it. Are you open to being enabled to see people and situations as the Lord sees them?