Do you see Jesus in others? And not just when you see someone do good works or when someone is kind and compassionate. Do you see Jesus in the broken, the sinful, the despised, the angry, and the hated people of the world?
As Christians, we are to view every encounter with another human being as an encounter with the image of God. The beauty and profoundness of that reality should override any differences and create space in us to willingly and lovingly embrace the other.
All too often we give up on people. We dismiss them when they hurt us or reject them out of fear or disagreement. We fail to recognize the image of God in them through the brokenness.
Mother Teresa was once asked, “What do you do all day walking the streets of Calcutta?” She responded with, “I behold Jesus Christ, the Spirit of God, in every face I see.”
Today, let us confess our blindness by taking time to pray for the broken relationships in our lives. As you pray, think of the names of those you have rejected, someone with whom you are angry, or someone who has hurt you. Do you see Jesus in them?
I behold the Christ in You,
Here the life of God I see;
I can see a great peace too,
I can see you whole and free.
I behold the Christ in you.
I can see this as you walk;
I see this in all you do,
I can see this as you talk.
I behold God’s love expressed,
I can see you filled with power;
I can see you ever blessed,
See Christ in you hour by hour.
I behold the Christ in you,
I can see that perfect one;
Led by God in all you do,
I can see God’s work is done
-poem by Frank B. Whitney
Reblogged this on Shane Ash.