Week 3 | Day 4 | See Every Person as Jesus Does

Command:

But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous. Luke 14:13-14 (NIV)

Read:

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? James 2: 1-4 (NIV)

Reflect:

We were on a family road trip heading up the coast to Canada as a young girl excited to be on an adventure. I recall stopping off at a roadside restaurant to get something to eat. I recall feeling uncomfortable as dozens of eyes fixated on my family as we walked by. We were seated in the back close to the kitchen with another family that looked like us. The hostess threw the menus at our table as I nervously settled in. My parents graciously and patiently chose to overlook the unjust treatment we received. It was my first experience of racism, and I remembered it very clearly. I recall the mixed feelings of shame, helplessness and anger for being in an environment where I knew I was not welcomed.  

Discrimination comes in many forms. Our human flesh is prone to sin. Sins that judge others according to our own preferences and our biases. However, Jesus calls us to be the salt and light of the earth. The more we remain connected with him the more he reveals how he sees others. It’s essential to remain in Jesus because we are prone to being captivated by our own limited understanding. He can transform our views of people so we “can act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8).  

React:

The world and our biases can tempt us to judge others. Do you honestly see people from Jesus’ perspective? We need him to soften our hearts and show us.

Pray:

Jesus, Thank you for being the perfect example of light in this broken world. Open my eyes to the beauty of each human face I come in contact with each day.