Skip to main content

Do You See What I See?

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than this.” Mark 12:31

3D glasses are amazing!! There is nothing like going to see a movie with these magical 3D glasses. I felt like I was right in the middle of the action, often causing me to kick my feet or raise my hands in a defensive posture (awkward).

Recently, I was listening to a couple that I knew fairly well talk of some troubles that they were experiencing in their lives. The more they talked the more I realized that I barely knew them at all. I had no idea what they had been going through and were experiencing. I immediately thought of the verse in Mark where Jesus said we were to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Ouch! I realized that I was not being a very good, loving neighbor to some good friends. I was watching the movie of their life unfold but I did not have on my 3D glasses that would allow me to notice details that would help me love them well. I felt Jesus ask me, “Mat, do you see what I see, or are you merely looking at the surface?”

If we are to truly love our neighbors, then we need to up our game asking God to give us 3D lenses allowing us to see what He wants us to see.

Prayer Focus: Lord, give me the courage and wisdom to love myself well so that I can love others well. Give me 3D lenses that help me see past what my human eyes notice and into Your supernatural gaze. And once I see what You see give me the courage to respond with grace, mercy, and love.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Not Every Prayer

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.’” Luke 18:9-10 Prayers are not the same. Some are humble cries to the Lord; but some are self-righteous rants before God. The first declares our unworthiness in the presence of our King. The second tells God how good we are compared to those around us, as if God is blessed to have us on His side. When I used to provide coaching for churches, I would be in meetings that included prayer. Some of those times were corporate praying that was open to all. I can still remember one in which a person very awkwardly poured their heart out to the Lord while the next waxed eloquent with fine-sounding words. As I listened to the second person, I was not sure that God knew anything, especially how special the pray-er was. As in our passage today, I believe the first person went home justified by Go...
Post a Comment
Read more

Summer Fun with Beautiful Feet!

“As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’” Romans 10:11-15 God is good, all the time! Just two verses are already good enough for Him to sketch His gospel to us! The messenger is sent to preach to the seeker. The seeker hears and believes and calls on the name of the Lord! Is it simple? YES! Is it easy? NO. Thank You God, You only hold us accountable to do our best in Your strength and in Your will, then leave the results for You! Also, thank You God, You pave...
Post a Comment
Read more

Answers

“An angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road, the desert road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out...” Acts 8:26 Philip is an example of how God calls us to step out in obedience even if it doesn’t make sense at the time. The angel of the Lord gave clear directions for Philip to go from Jerusalem to Gaza. He was asked to travel in the heat of the day through the desert, not the normal paved route to Gaza. Philip did not question God or try to figure out why God was asking him to go. He didn’t pause to wonder how he was going to deal with the physically draining aspects of the journey or who was going to fund his trip. He simply started on his way. As he went along, the Holy Spirit directed him to an Ethiopian eunuch. Philip struck up casual conversations which led to sharing the good news about Jesus. Many people have told me they desire to go on a mission trip but are not sure if they should go. They want to have all the answers ahead of time....
Post a Comment
Read more