Do you look at people with your eyes or your heart?
In Luke 7 Jesus is invited by a Pharisee to his house for dinner. During dinner, a woman who is described as a "woman of the city, who was a sinner" came in. Coming face to face with Jesus brings tears and a face to foot encounter. The Pharisee fully expected Jesus to point out her sin and send her on her way shamed and alone.
Jesus responds to this way of thinking by illuminating the truth of forgiveness through a story. Then he asks Simon, "Do you see this woman?" Obviously Jesus is not asking Simon if he can actually see her physically. But could Simon see with his heart. Did he only see what his eyes told him was a sinful woman; someone who was different than him and someone that was below him in every way. Did he see her as someone who was not worth his time or Jesus attention? Or...
Did he see her as Jesus did? A young lady who was broken, sinful, shamed and ... full of possibility through the power of a relationship with Jesus.
Too often we can find ourselves looking at people with our eyes only. What usually follows is criticism, apathy, or impossibility. However, when we look at a person with a heart that is surrendered to God we see things quite differently.
Great post today. I believe God has given you a gift of being able to really see people as He does, and it inspires me.
Love you,
C
Posted by: Carol Ann | July 10, 2007 at 09:58 PM