Seeing People as God Sees People
Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:37-40
We show our love for the Lord by reflecting his love to people. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. (1 John 4:20). God loves everyone and wishes all to be saved, but how do we love everybody and wish all to be saved? The only way we can do this is for our hearts to be filled with God’s love; then we will see people as God sees people.
First let’s define the type of love that our Lord wants us to reflect to others. It is agape love, a sacrificial love that wants the best for others both in this life and eternal life. It’s a concern for others with a willingness to help even when it’s inconvenient. We can show agape love to people we don’t like, our enemies for example. Agape love is not brotherly love, but often we have brotherly love with our Christian family.
How do we fill our hearts with God’s love so that we can love everyone, including our enemies? But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:44). The more love we bring to others the more love we receive from God. Giving and receiving is the design of all creation, and that includes us. Love starts in our church family where love grows between our Christian brothers and sisters. Love is given and love is received, causing love to increase in our hearts.
The love we have for our Christian brothers and sisters extends to others outside our church. We minister to lost souls with a caring heart that is driven by ever increasing love. If we minister to lost souls with our Christian brothers or sisters, it seems that love becomes stronger in us. Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits (Mark 6:7). Jesus sent them two by two because iron sharpens iron and love sharpens love.
Today, try to see people as the Lord sees them. Ask yourself what that person thinks concerning eternity after death. You have an opportunity given by the Lord to bring the truth to that person, if they are willing to listen. The more we minister to lost souls and get to know them, the more of God’s love fills our hearts, making us more Christ-like.
Let’s Pray: Lord, help me to see people as you see people, with a heart of love. Guide me to people who will listen to the truth and give me the wisdom and courage to bring them the truth. In Jesus name, Amen