You pass people each day. And if you are not careful, you miss seeing their faces, hearing their stories, knowing their need for God, and miss opportunities to bless them.
You may be so focused on the ups and downs of your journey that you do not see the people around you and where they are in life. You do not see if they are hurting, celebrating, confused, or lonely. You walk down the paths of your own life, your own job, your own activities, never joining those who walk beside you.
You have good intentions. You love Jesus. You may be kind to people, saying a nice “Have a great day” when checking out at the grocery store. But as a Christ-follower, you aren’t called just to be good or nice.
Being part of something bigger than yourself
You are called to be something more. You are called to be a blesser. You are charged with being the love, the hope, and the peace that Jesus has poured into your life so that it will overflow onto others, pointing them to Christ.
And deep down inside, aren’t you ready to be part of something bigger than yourself, to be more than you are right now? Don’t you desire to be part of God’s mission and to go beyond simply saying “God bless you” to actually tangibly blessing someone?
Seeing with the eyes of Jesus changes everything
You start by seeing people the way God sees them. To truly SEE them. You are called to allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in the way He wants you to go and to the people He wants you to walk with. You are challenged to see them, like Jesus, with compassion, and intentionally, sacrificially, and unconditionally love them as an example of God’s love.
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick
Seeing this way is about being part of your community. It’s about living life engaged with people who don’t know Christ, striving to understand their background and their culture so that you will know the best way to connect them to the hope of Christ. So that they might discover Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life.
The missional rhythm of looking
Looking is a missional rhythm that helps you link and listen to the people in the places where you live, work, learn, and play. This rhythm of looking is more than a simple moment in time captured with your physical eyes. It is seeing others the way God sees them and following his prompts to move with compassion.
Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, “…we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well” (1 Thessalonians 2:7b-8 NIV)
Journey each day and see where God is working and where He wants you to join Him in ministering to the overlooked people around you. Brandon Heath sings Give My Your Eyes and the chorus should be a prayer that is continually on our lips.
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see,
Everything that I keep missing,
Give your love for humanity.
Give me your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten.
Give me Your eyes so I can see.
Take time to look at the faces that pass you each day and let God connect you to people; to explore where they live, what life is like for them so you can bless them in Jesus’ name. Look for ways to open your home, your heart, and your very life to people.
- What distractions keep you from seeing the needs of others?
- Who have you neglected to see because you were too busy or too focused on your own journey?
- What can you do today to shift your vision toward others?