What happens if each time we look at another person we treat them as if they already were who they were made to be? What happens if each time we look someone at someone, we look them in the eyes, not to find what needs fixed but to hear their story? What if we listen to hear who they are and see what they need and show them love instead of trying to dig up what they're doing wrong?
I think that most of us would admit we have flaws (or...at least I do!)...and in the church we talk a lot about grace. But, I'm not sure we truly grasp it. Grace looks like us recognizing we're not perfect and because of grace, we know that no longer does that keep us from God. Grace doesn't look like us have a ticket to the anything-I-wanna-do-anytime-I-wanna 24hr buffet. Most people who have been in church have also heard that. But, how much have we heard about embracing each other and strangers on the street like they already have been covered in grace?
I find myself easily slipping into evaluating everything and everyone if I'm not careful. When I do, it stresses me out. Why? Because...although we're meant to be discerning and confront each other when there are issues, we weren't made to constantly be trying to only find what's wrong with the person in front of us. Yet, so often we live like this.
What if....our elders looked at us like we had already been covered in grace and saw us as who we were meant to be? What if instead of the older generation always talking about what is wrong with the younger generation, they talked about what's right about them and the plans God has for them? What if we as the younger generation embraced the generations before us in the same way? hmm....just some food for thought.
Do you remember a time when you messed up terribly and you were greeted with love, and forgiveness and the time you messed up was forgotten? My bet, is if you experienced that..that time changed your life. Do you remember a time when someone treated you as if you had nothing good to offer, saw only the things you needed to work on, and brought up everything you had ever done wrong against them? My bet, is if you had a time like this...that time changed your life. How do you want to change someone's life? You have plenty of chances.
So, without further ado....what does it look like to switch our thinking in the way we perceive others? Do you already see other people as who they were made to be or do their flaws stick out at you like a sore thumb and you can't seem to get past them?
I think that most of us would admit we have flaws (or...at least I do!)...and in the church we talk a lot about grace. But, I'm not sure we truly grasp it. Grace looks like us recognizing we're not perfect and because of grace, we know that no longer does that keep us from God. Grace doesn't look like us have a ticket to the anything-I-wanna-do-anytime-I-wanna 24hr buffet. Most people who have been in church have also heard that. But, how much have we heard about embracing each other and strangers on the street like they already have been covered in grace?
I find myself easily slipping into evaluating everything and everyone if I'm not careful. When I do, it stresses me out. Why? Because...although we're meant to be discerning and confront each other when there are issues, we weren't made to constantly be trying to only find what's wrong with the person in front of us. Yet, so often we live like this.
What if....our elders looked at us like we had already been covered in grace and saw us as who we were meant to be? What if instead of the older generation always talking about what is wrong with the younger generation, they talked about what's right about them and the plans God has for them? What if we as the younger generation embraced the generations before us in the same way? hmm....just some food for thought.
Do you remember a time when you messed up terribly and you were greeted with love, and forgiveness and the time you messed up was forgotten? My bet, is if you experienced that..that time changed your life. Do you remember a time when someone treated you as if you had nothing good to offer, saw only the things you needed to work on, and brought up everything you had ever done wrong against them? My bet, is if you had a time like this...that time changed your life. How do you want to change someone's life? You have plenty of chances.
So, without further ado....what does it look like to switch our thinking in the way we perceive others? Do you already see other people as who they were made to be or do their flaws stick out at you like a sore thumb and you can't seem to get past them?
No comments:
Post a Comment