There are a couple directions I could go after my sermon yesterday. But one direct connection is that if God views us with honor, despite what the world thinks of us, should we not view others in the same way? Because God chooses to view us with a different set of values, should not we view other people in a different way as well?
I think this hit me a couple years ago when our theme for Southside was “Lord Open our Eyes.” When I prayed this over and over, I started to observe that there were people everywhere who often I did not even think about or even notice. Grocery cashiers, drivers in the car next to me, fast food restaurant workers, neighbors down the street, and children on a playground. I would see these people on a daily basis, and yet act as if they simply did not even exist. My interaction with them was purely based on their involvement (often, negative) in my life. For instance, if they messed up my fast food order or did not give me the right change, then I noticed who was working there. If they did it all right, I didn’t notice.
Not to mention, other people who I don’t see on a regular basis because my path of daily interaction does not interface with them. Like for instance, people who are homeless, poor, or disabled. These people do not offer me any tangible reward for getting to know them. I am not going to receive any benefits from interacting with them (at least, initially); it is just going to be work on my part. So I can plan my daily path to not deal with them, at least in some way.
Yet, when we ask God to open our eyes, we see the people that I have described. They are there – maybe jaded by the world and shamed by the community. But they are there. I think Peter’s message in 2:4-10 challenges our viewpoint of others. Of all people in the world, the one group who should be willing to look at a person not for what they have accomplished or where they work (or don’t work), but simply for who they are should be Christians. After all, is that not what God has done in us? Simply because of His mercy, He has declared us as “His people.” So the challenge for us is to adopt that same mindset with others in our path (and even outside of our path). To notice a person and see their God-given value when the world does not see it, and maybe they do not even see it themselves.
"Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him." 1 Cor. 1:26-29
Does anyone struggle with the challenge of seeing honor and value in people, despite what they do, where they live, and who they associate with?
Application point: Sometime this week, notice a person during your routine duties and interact with them in a special way because you recognize the value they have as a person.
People
6 years ago
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I agree. We get too busy to remember our mission to those around us. I try to imagine the day someone is having as I interact with them in traffic or at the cash register. If you take the time to strike up a conversation, you will be amazed at what the person will share with you.
ReplyDeleteI try to imagine the person's situation under the bridge at Rosedale and wonder if he has heard the good news of Christ.
A friend of mine who used to worship at Southside said she had made a pledge with God for her family to be "unbusy". I think that is a good idea.
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ReplyDeleteAs suggested in the comments above we need to see others as Jesus sees them. Yesterday, while introducing myself to some new members in the HOPE class, I noticed someone with sores upon his/her mouth and face. Unfortunately, my first inclination was to steer clear of that person for surely he/she was a "junkie", a user, or had some horrific disease. I had already labeled this person and not opened my eyes to see that person through the eyes of Jesus. If you think about the writings of Jesus in His sermon known as the Beatitudes, Jesus reaches out to the downtrodden, the weary, and those in need (refer to Matt. 5).
ReplyDeleteAs indicated previously we need to open not only our eyes, but our hearts as well. Another time while interviewing people in need of the pantry service, I came across a young man that seemed to be searching for a sliver of hope. I began to talk with him about Jesus, the Giver of Hope. He seemed reluctant at first, but I gave him a Recovery Bible and we began a study together of the many words of hope and encouragement found in the Bible. Of course, I invited him to the HOPE class. With much anxiety he asked, "Will people accept me?" I assured him that we had all kinds of people with all kinds of problems looking for hope also. He went on to explain that he had acquired an Auto Immune Disease (which I suspected). Again, I tried to ease his concern with the words of love, mercy, and forgiveness found in His teachings. We have continued to converse and study. I ask that you pray for him, a kindhearted, gentle soul as he searches for truth, mercy, and love. To protect him he shall remain anonymous. Also, I ask that we all pray that the Lord open our eyes, and give us compassionate hearts so that we may reach out to the tired, the weak, and those in need.
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ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts. As you mentioned, I believer that one way to help us to have the eyes of God's is to participate in mission activities. I think this is why Jesus sent out the seventy-two in Luke 10, so they could develop His eyes. I am thankful for Southside's mission efforts not only for the impact they have on others, but also how it changes our perspective as His servants.
Thank you for your blog on this subject. I do struggle with quick judgments based on how people seem to be different from me. It is frequently included in my prayer requests. I had an experience that really brings this home to me. My office is located one block north of Rosedale on Lipscomb St. We keep the doors locked and are supposed to make certain that we know for whom we are opening the door. One day in my haste to open the door, I did not use the intercom to inquire who was there. As I opened the door, I found myself literally face-to-face with a man who was nothing like me. His smile revealed really bad teeth, his clothes were tattered and he sprayed when he spoke. Fear struck my heart as I realized that this why we are not supposed to open the door to random folks. I then noticed he carried a Bible, and he began to quote scripture to me and told me that Jesus loves me. I did begin to relax, but not completely. I noticed that he left and went to a business across the street. He came back on a regular basis, always quoting scripture and assuring us that Jesus loves us. We began to look forward to him coming and if a month went by without hearing from him, we would wonder if he was okay. We learned some things about him:
ReplyDeleteHe has a name (just like us)
He loves the Lord Jesus Christ and wants everyone to be saved (much like us)
He is actively doing something about that every day (much like us, maybe or maybe not?)
I began to realize that instead of wishing Mark Stephen Puckett was more like me--I should strive to be more like him, peculiar that is.
Shirley,
ReplyDeleteI was so pleased to read your comment. The telling of your story was vivid and one that we, as a peculiar people, could easily learn from: We could all learn to go about preaching the Word like Mr. Puckett. What a great example!
Linda
Shirley,
ReplyDeleteThanks also for sharing that story. That reminded me of a piece that was written in the Christian Chronicle by one of our future Wednesday speakers Anthony Wood on working with the homeless (I put the link below). He mentions that often we want to change the homeless into who we are, instead of letting God change them into who He is. We forget that they, too, were made in the image of God, just as much as we are. Your story served as a reminder of that.
http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158980~Finding_God%92s_image_in_the_homeless_population
Shirley, I was truly blessed to read your post this AM...
ReplyDeleteI struggle with this topic as well...and what comes to my mind are the words selfish and serving. I believe we are engrossed in a society and world that promotes "ME" first...we are taught by the world to be selfish. And if we could just serve others before ourselves, what a difference it would be. We would be peculiar.
-Troy