“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Looking Beyond the Surface
If you’re like me, you’ve probably walked into a room and immediately started making observations. Someone seems frustrated. Someone else looks distracted. Someone appears unfriendly. We naturally notice what people do. Jesus looked deeper. He saw why they were hurting. The religious leaders saw a tax collector. Jesus saw a man searching for hope. The crowd saw a woman caught in sin. Jesus saw someone who needed grace. The disciples saw children as an interruption. Jesus saw them as a blessing. The crowd saw a blind beggar. Jesus saw a man worth stopping for. The cross changed more than our eternal destination. It changes the way we look at people.
Digging Deeper
One of my favorite stories is found in Luke 19.
As Jesus entered Jericho, everyone knew who Zacchaeus was. He was dishonest. He had cheated people. He was wealthy because of corruption. The crowd saw a sinner. Jesus saw someone worth pursuing. Instead of avoiding Zacchaeus, Jesus stopped beneath the sycamore tree and said,
“Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.” (Luke 19:5)
What a beautiful picture of grace. Jesus didn’t ignore Zacchaeus’ sin. He looked beyond it to see a man whose life could be transformed. That’s exactly what happened. When Zacchaeus encountered Jesus, everything changed. A renewed perspective doesn’t cause us to excuse sin. It causes us to see people as God sees them—individuals created in His image and deeply loved by Him. Imagine how different our homes, our workplaces, and our churches would be if we paused long enough to ask, “How does God see this person?”
Take a few moments to think through these questions.
- Is there someone I’ve written off because of their past?
- Have I been judging someone’s actions without considering what they may be carrying?
- Who in my life needs grace more than criticism?
- How would Jesus respond to that person?
Today’s Challenge
Ask God to place one person on your heart today. It may be someone at work. A family member. A neighbor. Someone you’ve struggled to understand.
Before you speak to them—or about them—pause and pray: “Lord, help me see them the way You see them.”
Then look for one practical way to show the love of Christ. Sometimes a kind word, a listening ear, or a simple prayer can become the very thing God uses to change someone’s day.
Remember Sunday’s Truth
The road didn’t change. The windshield did.
A renewed perspective doesn’t just change how you see your circumstances.
It changes how you see the people God places in your path.