God however is not that way. Samuel 16 reminds us that God does not look on the outward expressions of a person, he looks at their heart. Jesus repeats this theme by reminding us that we should not think ill of anyone in a slanderous way. Even going as far as warning us that we are in danger of God's judgment solely on our mis-judging of others. The Bible encourages us to do this because all persons are created in the image of God; from the greatest of us to the least; we are image bearers.
Jesus never dismissed societies outcasts. He never marginalized the needy. Luke 18 tells us the story of a blind man who cried out to Jesus from the crowd. Though onlookers (and Jesus' own disciples for that matter), tried to quiet the blind man, he cried all the more and begged Jesus, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" Rather than dismissing the blind man's comments as inappropriate, or out of place, Jesus gave great grace and healed the man; Jesus "saw" him, he did not turn away. Bestowing love on the least, a man, made in God's image who needed compassion.
Jesus doesn't ignore those in need, he focuses on them, specifically. And we, should do the same. Ironically, the man in the Bible story is healed from his physical blindness and we risk growing blind, especially to suffering all around us. Whether that is people who are suffering with starvation, poverty, injustice, slavery, or even the unborn, each victims without a voice; victims we try and silence. But they are crying out to be seen by Jesus and he does not dismiss them, he offers them grace and desires to manifest that grace through our very hands, feet and voice. We must begin to be healed of our own blindness and myopathy and truly see as he sees.
This may help you as well. It is good to know that no matter how big the world and its problems, God sees you also. Psalm 8 reminds us that despite the grandness of creation, the moon and the stars, God made us and remembers us. God has noticed you! Ed Setzer wrote in his devotion on Bearing God's image, that in Jesus, we see the "fullest expression of God noticing us." His work on the cross has healed all that corrupted and injured within us and heals what is beautiful in us, fully restoring us, thus revealing God's image in us. No matter what you are struggling with, God notices.
Pastor John
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