Often times as I look around at our world, I wonder if we really see what God sees. I mean are we really able to see people the way God see them? I would like the answer to that question to be yes, of course! However, I think it would not take much pondering on the reality of our lives to discover that, maybe not so much.

Jesus answered the question presented to Him by the Pharisees about which was the greatest commandment. His answer being to Love God and Love People. Well, some may think it to be an easy thing to do and others may think it to be rather challenging. Not to mention the variables that exist. Especially the fact that not all of us are that easy to love at times. That’s right, I said it. You know it is true. That is why we need Jesus!

I believe that there are many obstacles in life that prevent we the believers from really being able to love God and love people in the way that Jesus meant when He answered that question. One of the largest obstacles is the fact that the world demands society to look at one another and instantly pass judgement on one another solely based on our own personal opinions about what is right or wrong or what is acceptable or not. This leaves little to no room for being able to see people the way God sees people.

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35

We see here in John 13 how Jesus explains how to love God and love people. Especially that the Church would love one another. Yes indeed. It is a lot more than just being nice and exercising manners while in public. As Jesus made obvious, this is a command! If we profess to be believers, disciples of Christ, we must understand this as one of those things that is not an option.

I personally do not see this command as having multiple ways of going about doing. Jesus simply said to “love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.” This would require us to have a good understanding of just how Jesus loved us. Once we have that understanding, then we can hope to love others and be a proper witness in the world for the Kingdom of God!

Notice that as we pursue this understanding, the result would naturally be that we are moving away from the way of the world which calls us to treat one another based on our own judgements and opinions. The fact is that we cannot love others the way that Jesus loves us while picking sides and viewing those who are standing on other sides as the enemy. It is impossible to see what God sees in people if we are focused on what we believe are their faults or sins. Yes, I know, this is the most challenging to say the least.

God sees what He created in all human beings. After all, He is the creator. He does not make mistakes. Yes, He sees our sin. Yes, He knows our hearts. However, God’s plan has always been to allow Jesus to come into the world for the purpose of dealing with the problem of sin. The problem being that sin separates us from God an His Holiness and demands a payment, death.

This is God’s plan because when He looks at His creation, He see past the sin and sees what He intended for each of us. He sees what He loves. Oh, how powerful our witness could be if we could just see others the way God sees them! If only we could see people the way God sees them, we might consider that God loves each one therefore, how could I do anything other than love?

Oh, how powerful our witness could be if we could just see what God sees in ourselves! Too many of us struggle with loving ourselves because we do not see what God loves. If we would see what He loves, then we would consider that if God loves me then how could I not love me? Then, we would truly have the ability to understand exactly how and why Jesus loves us the way that He did and does!

So, I would encourage each of us to consider seeking the Lord prayerfully that we would continue to grow in our understanding of Just how it was and is that Jesus loves us. I would encourage each one to prayerfully seek the Lord for strength and wisdom as we are in the world as witnesses to the lost. Pray that we would see people the way the God sees people.

To God be the glory.