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

Storyteller

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.” Acts 1:8-9 These are the last words Jesus speaks to his Apostles just before ascending into heaven. Not what they were expecting. They were wondering when Jesus was going to set up His Kingdom on earth. As He was ascending into heaven He reveals we are the ones to accomplish the task. Jesus’ departure is not desertion; it is a commission to be the storytellers of truth to the rest of the world. Frequently, we look at this scripture in relationship to our life. We perceive Jerusalem as our own community, Judea as our city, Samaria as our country and the ends of the earth as the world. Christ informed the apostles they will have the power of the Holy Spirit to reach these people. Notice the word “and...” Jesus didn’t say...
1 comment
Read more

The Way We Pray

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 What brings answered prayer in a Christian’s life? Do you ever feel that you pray and God is silent or that you grow weary in your prayer life because it seems that God isn’t answering your heart’s desires? Could it be that many times it is because of the way we are praying? This passage of Scripture goes on to say, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Taking God’s yoke on ourselves is a picture of an animal having a harness around its neck and can’t move to the right or left but only where the farmer is leading. It may seem restrictive to see God in that same way, but He wants us to follow Him looking straight ahead and keeping our eyes focused on Him and His purposes. It keeps us from getting sidetracked in our Christian walk. Then, our praying becomes asking Him for things He is desiring for us and those aro...
Post a Comment
Read more

Loving My Neighbor

“…Love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 19:19 Jesus taught us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” Also in the gospel of Matthew, He said this, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” It is interesting that Jesus says that this is the sum of what the Law and the Prophets have to say. This is saying that the Old Testament speaks of love for our neighbor and putting others before ourselves. This is not just a New Testament teaching. Galatians also says the same thing. “The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” There are Old Testament verses that speak to this, but much of the time it is implied. The Law teaches us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and after that to love our neighbor as ourself. That is a high calling. After our love for God, we are to love our neighbor. Sometimes this is easy and other times not so much. But, God doesn’t say to...
Post a Comment
Read more