My World View

At left is a picture of our planet.  I pulled it off of Google images.  I searched for the word "globe," and that's what came up.

I am used to seeing globes pictured this way.

Notice the spotlight on North America.

Notice the darker shade of green on other continents.

Consider how you and I view the world - we often see it from our own point of view.  The view from home.  Home is central.  North America is home.  Thus, it feels familiar and safe to spotlight and picture the world as this picture to the left does.

Sadly, few people develop the ability or desire to see the world from other points of view.

We should be grateful for our homeland.  We should cheer on the USA in the Olympics and pray for our people around the world.

We should also be aware that the rest of the world has a lot to teach us.  We should be willing to listen and learn from people who view the globe from a different perspective.

Now, as I prepare to leave for Africa on September 29th, I know for certain that I will see a very different part of the world.  Several have told me that I'll never be the same again.  Interesting...

...I wonder how God sees the world.  What is God's "world view."  Jesus told his disciples to go "into all the nations." 

All the nations. 

I'm glad that God's "target" for His blessing includes America.  

It also includes every other nation and people group on the planet.

...I would love to have you read along as I visit Africa and experience a faraway land. 

...Even more, I dare you to pray that God would give you a heart for the nations. 

The whole globe.  Other continents.  Other people.  Different cultures.  Foreign languages.

...When Jesus left the earth, He commanded His people to represent Him "to the very ends of the earth."

From my perspective, the Central African Republic will probably feel like the "very ends of the earth."


At the same time, I wonder how our friends in Africa view the United States.  To them, our country represents the "very ends of the earth."