Do you have a resolution problem? My computer was giving me fits. I have a 17-inch monitor and ever since the last time I had it in the shop, the screen resolution wasn't working correctly. It was either calm and the resolution too large … making everything jagged and impossible to read, or if I made the resolution smaller … the screen had a horrible flicker and there was several inches of black space around my display. I brought the PC box into the shop and on a regular size monitor the display looked fine, but when we hooked it up to a large monitor, my previous problems were evident. After some fiddling around with the controls, we were able to solve the problem. And it got me to thinking that often we have a resolution problem in our Christian life that obscures our spiritual vision. Resolution in this sense has two meanings: our ability to see and our conviction or faith. Often there are things that obscure our vision and blur our spiritual sight. Such things as deception, doubt, fear and unbelief can distort our vision of who we are in Jesus and what He has done for us, in us and through us. Psalms 34:3 (KJV) O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Luke 1:46-47 (KJV) And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior. Psalms 35:27 (KJV) Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant. We also can lose focus on spiritual things if we let material things fill our vision. What we magnify, or allow scope in our life determines what our life is. If we magnify or make God large in our sight, then our faith will be based on Him, Who He is and what He has done for us. But if we allow our problems and trials to be magnified, then our faith will falter and doubt will grow. Psalms 40:16 (KJV) Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified. *We can focus on the problems, or on the problem solver. *We can focus on the disease, or on the Healer. *We can focus on the battle, or on the war, which God in Christ has already won for us. *We can focus on the temptation, or the Escape from temptation. *We can focus on the pain or the balm of Gilead. *We can focus on the trouble in the world, or the Overcomer living within us. *We can focus on doubt, or the Author and Finisher of our faith. *We can focus on fear, or the courage of the Lion of Judah. *We can focus on junk, or we can focus on JESUS. It is all of matter of resolution or focus. Who we are, what we have and what we are becoming depends on what we magnify in our lives. Like my monitor, we often need an Expert to adjust our settings to help us have the correct resolution … and the Holy Spirit is more than happy to help if we yield to Him and the Word. Romans 4:20-21 Yet he [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. Resolution has a second meaning: conviction, persuasion and faith. Our faith or lack of it depends to a large extent on what we focus on… the Word or the world. Abraham focused on God's promises, and his faith was strengthened. He gave glory to God and focused on God instead of his problems. 2 Timothy 1:12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. Paul also had a firm resolution to follow Jesus because Paul had taken the time to get to know Him and had learned to trust Him no matter what the circumstances. In another place Paul said: 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. Are you resolved to follow Jesus and Him alone? To know nothing but Christ and Him crucified? This is SO easy when things are going well, but when earthly troubles and trials get magnified, they obscure our vision. We must be firmly resolved to follow Jesus. Romans 8: 38-39 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons [principalities], neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. In fact, Paul was so resolved, convinced, persuaded and determined to follow Jesus that it simply didn't matter what happened - Paul knew that he knew that he knew that NOTHING no way no how was going to separate him from Jesus, not even the martyr's death that he suffered soon after he wrote this passage. Philippians 1:20 (KJV) According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. And in allowing Christ to be magnified in his sight, Paul also magnified Christ to others … By his expectation and hope and boldness … whether he lived or died, Paul's focus magnified Jesus to others as well. Psalms 17:3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. It is this strong conviction or resolution that enables us to resist sin. If you are not firmly convinced in your mind of WHOSE you are, the temptation to sin will be overwhelming. But if you are resolved to follow Christ no matter what the cost, then it will strengthen your power over temptation. 2 Timothy 3:14-17 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. If your spiritual resolution is faulty today, if your spiritual vision is blurred, how much time are you spending in the Word? The holy Scriptures have been given to us to make us wise for salvation through faith in Jesus. They are given to us to teach and correct us … to keep our resolution clear and firm. Your faith may be weak, there may be a "flicker" of doubt or fear in your sight … let the Holy Spirit fine tune you today and correct your vision to clearly gaze upon Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. ***************************************************************************************** All files c1998 Karleen E. Page, All Rights Reserved. ONE copy may be printed or copied to your PC for personal use only. Please email for any other permissions. Thank You. Posted at Ask OldTimer http://members.tripod.com/KarleenP/text/askoldtimer.htm