They saw an adulterer who deserved to be punished for her shameful misconduct.
He saw a woman who needed to be loved and cared for like a fragile child.
{John 8:1-11}
They saw a blind, rambling man that needed to be shut down and ignored.
He saw a man who was desperately in need of his healing touch.
{Luke 18:35-43}
They saw a group of men that were despised, un-approachable, cast off by society.
He saw people who longed to be cared for, loved, and accepted as they were.
{Luke 17:11-19}
They saw little children that were not worth their time.
He saw innocent little lives that needed to be invested into.
{Matthew 19:13-15}
They saw a woman who tried to fill her needs with one man after another.
He saw someone whose emptiness could only be filled with living water that only He could give.
{John 4:1-34}
They saw a man who cheated them, abused the system, and was a waste of time.
He saw someone who needed a chance at forgiveness and a new start.
{Luke 19:1-10}
Isn’t interesting… the difference between how Jesus saw people and how others saw them?
Imagine if we chose to see people through the eyes of Jesus every day…
…If we saw the alcoholics and drugs addicts as people who are desperately searching to fill a void only Jesus can fill.
And instead of looking down on them and pointing fingers we lifted them up in prayer and pointed them to God?
…If we saw the young teenage girl who is ready to give herself away to the first guy that walks into her life as a young soul desperate to feel the love and acceptance of Jesus.
And instead of talking behind her back to one another, we talk to her, be-friend her, love her as Jesus would, and help her feel the warmth and comfort of belonging in a loving church family.
…If we saw church leaders who stumble and fall as mere humans who have weaknesses and are constantly attacked by Satan so that they will be brought down.
And instead of judging them behind closed doors you brought them before God behind your own closed doors and helped carry their burden as spiritual leaders in need of God’s guidance and support.
…If we saw the poor people on the streets as broken souls who needed help that only you can give.
And instead of passing them by without a second glance you took the time to give a smile, a shelter, a dollar, or a prayer.
What if we saw people the way Jesus did?
See… Jesus seems to always have it backwards.
He loved the people that others loved to gossip about.
He cared for the people that others would just ignore.
He accepted people that others looked down upon.
He forgave those people that others loved to point fingers at.
He gave love, comfort, security, hope to the least deserved.
And my question to you is this: can you do the same?
I’ve been praying about this a lot lately.
That I would see people the way that God sees them.
That I learn to bring them up to God before I ever bring them up in a conversation.
That I take the time to get to know them and love them before I choose to point fingers at them and judge them.
That I learn to support them and carry their burdens with them before I walk away and ignore them.
That I treat them the way Jesus would have treated them.
My challenge to you (and me) is this: don’t judge a person whose burdens you have not carried, whose challenges you haven’t faced, whose battles you haven’t fought, whose road you haven’t walked on.
Instead choose to see how God sees them.
Choose to love like God loves them.
Choose to live life differently.
Be blessed! –Anna… ♥
I love this! I have been guilty to have harsh thoughts or say a rude comment about some people who have done things that I didn’t consider right and what you have blogged has really convicted me to try my very hardest to be a better person! I desire to be more like Jesus. Thank you so much. You have been an inspiration to me ever since i’ve been following you.:)
Thanks Christin. I’m definitely on the same page as you. Sometimes God has to stop me in my train of thinking (when it comes to certain situations) and help me see it from His point of view and it has honestly been changing the way I approach and react to things in a really good way. I think it comes naturally (and much more easily) to think, say, see, and do things that are worldly and not at all like how God does but with His help He can transform our thinking and way of life to be more like His. 🙂
May you continue growing in Christ and becoming more like Jesus every day! Be blessed.
Wow, this post gave me something to think about. I often like to say I view people the way Jesus would your post made me question that. It’s good to be reminded of who Jesus is and how we can be more like Him everyday.
Yes… it’s definitely hard to live a life how Jesus would have if He were in our shoes, especially in a world that tells us to live it the total opposite (all for ourselves), but with His help He can continue to renew our way of thinking and living and help us reflect His image and honor Him in all that we do. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by. Be blessed!
Your post represents the TRUE CHRISTIANITY that a lot of people miss out on!
God saves us by His Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Personal Savior because He loves us, and not because we are any good!
Salvation of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is a FREE GIFT, an UNMERITED FAVOR!
Here is some more scripture supporting your lovely post:
Matthew 7:1,2
“7 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.”
Luke 6:37
“37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.”
“The Parable Of The Good Samaritan”
Luke 10:30-37
John 1:16,17
“16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”
John 3:16,17
“16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
John 15:12
“12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”
John 15:17
“17 This I command you, that you love one another.”
Romans 2:1
“2 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”
Romans 5:6
“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”
Romans 8:1,2
“8 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.”
Ephesians 1:7
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”
Ephesians 2:8,9
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
[Scripture is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB)]
http://www.biblegateway.com/
Romans 6:23
“23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I trust that we will move away from professionalised, mechanical Christianity without heart. Let us seek the very heart of Christ. His heart for people. Let us step outside our created bubbles of safety and stand with those who are facing prejudice and injustice. Let us be led by Jesus Himself and not what our friends and churches say is acceptable. Allow Him to guide and lead us wherever He wants us to go. Send us where He wants us to. This is following Him. So much emphasis is placed on a Christianity that ticks the boxes. Getting the right education, the degrees, the diplomas – often well meaning – but let us move in the power of His heart and in humility and service. Let us be broken by the Lord.
Let us say “Here I am Lord…send me…I will go”. I will go to the marginalised and the rejected.
Amen! If we don’t reflect Christ with our lives it doesn’t matter what degrees we have and how “Christian” we think we are. It’s all about loving Jesus and being His hands and feet to the people around us.