Friday, May 3, 2024
During a family camping trip last year, we traveled through Colorado. Along the way, we drove through a long, dark tunnel. It took ages to get to the other side, but when we finally made it out … we gasped in awe!
My siblings and I had never seen anything like the Rocky Mountains. The brilliant light bounced off of the snow covered peaks, towering far, far above us. It was breathtaking and beautiful!
The Bible tells a story about Samuel, God’s prophet, looking for the next king of Israel. Samuel had followed God for years, but he still had room to grow and learn. When he was tempted to pick the next king based on his first impression, Samuel was reminded of God’s perspective.
1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
It is easy for us to make an assumption based on how someone is dressed, the way they talk, or even how they acted in the past. However, when we only look from our point of view, we can’t see where God is at work. Our understanding of God is blocked by our own judgements.
2 Corinthians 5:16-17
16 So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
Our first understanding of God is limited. We aren’t able to fully comprehend his character. However, God is transforming us into new people. He is expanding our perspective so we can view more and more of his love and power.
God is also working in other people, even those we don’t necessarily want to associate with. Although our sight is limited to the dark walls of the tunnel, God knows the whole view. He is creating the story of that person, a story none of us will be able to fully comprehend until it is finished.
When we finally drive out the other side, God will open our eyes, revealing all of the brilliant, glorious truths we couldn’t see before.
Questions:
How has God transformed you into a new person? Is there anyone in your life that you are tempted to judge? How can you remember God’s perspective when you see them?
Next Steps:
Ask God to give you the perspective to see people like he does. Spend some time today reading your Bible, and look for what it says about who God is. Next time you find yourself judging someone, ask God how he sees that person (Hint: it’s someone he loves very, very much!).
Prayer:
Father, it is so tempting to judge other people. I am sorry for the ways I have done this in the past. Please, give me your perspective. Help me love people the way you do, and celebrate your work in them. Show me how I can love everyone around me. I love you. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Romans 6:14
Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
This post was written by Lydia Snyder, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.