J. Sidlow Baxter writes in his daily devotional work, Awake My Heart, challenging us when we might become preoccupied with the unfolding events of politics and world affairs:
“It is understandable that in days like these we should tend to be preoccupied with the vast affairs of the times. Wide-sweeping ideologies contend against each other. Huge world movements are taking shape…
"As Christians, we ought to see all the portentous developments of our time from a high altitude. Only when we stand high do we see far. Broad landscapes are never commanded from lowlands. It is elevation which gives wide vision...
"There are too many of us living down at sea level! There are many influences to keep us there. The average radio and television stuff will keep us there. So will the usual newspaper. So will the common run of magazines. So will the average conversation of the street and the place of daily business...
“Christ’s people were never meant to live at the world’s sea-level. We are meant to have the mountain view, the long view, the wide view, the really understanding view. We are meant to see the happenings of our time in the light of inspired prophesy, through the eyes of the Holy Spirit, from the high view point of the divine purpose, and with our gaze on the ultimate victory of Christ…
“How shall we keep that high altitude of vision in our daily life? We must live near to the Scriptures. We must love the place of prayer. We must guard against easy-going toleration of things in our lives which grieve the Holy Spirit, and rob us of His inward witness.
Baxter challenges us to give ourselves to daily earnest prayer; to seek to share Christ with others; and to consistently spend time in the Word. He concludes:
“If we were thus to live through this incoming year, it could only prove a year of peaceful hope.”
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