Seeing as Jesus sees
It’s getting harder and harder to watch the news. Horrible things happen every day – shootings, stabbings, drug overdoses, bombings and many other examples of man’s inhumanity to man.
Add to that the hateful political rhetoric and physical attacks (it’s election time in the US) and it’s no wonder people are using more drugs and alcohol. It all gets to be too much.
When the sin and evil in the world become overwhelming, it’s good to remember two things: one, God loves everyone which is why Jesus died for the whole world. All will be redeemed. Two, when you look at people, think of how Dallas Willard described all of us: we are unceasing spiritual beings with an eternal destiny in God’s great universe. He also said the abundant life of the Kingdom flowing through us makes us of greater natural beauty than anything in all creation.
It isn’t easy to remember or believe these two statements of Willard, but if we have any hope of seeing people as Jesus sees them (us), we will do well to ponder these words and look deeper rather than at what’s on the surface. Judging people by appearances is all too easy, as we’ve experienced many times. God looks on the heart and sees things not as they are, but as they can and will be, redeemed and made new. May we all learn to see each other with the eyes of Jesus.
Study by Tammy Tkach
First published on 25 October 2022, at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com
About the writer:
Tammy Tkach is the Assistant Pastor of the Eugene, Oregon, USA congregation. She is a speaker and writer, and publishes a blog at www.gemsofgodsgrace.wordpress.com
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