Eyes Wide Shut

Welcome back, I cannot wait to share with you today about how we can see people with Gods eyes rather than our own. Let’s begin with a verse that will set the tone for what we will talk about today.

“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. For the LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

I want to encourage you to look at your family members differently. You may be around family members that rub you the wrong way or not live the way you approve. Sometimes we get our vision clouded with our ideas and hurt or set standards for people. Instead of seeing with your vision, ask God to give you his eyes. They may be living a lifestyle contrary to the will of God and may even know that they are living in sin. God wants you to look through them through a different lens and to see the hurt and cry for help within them. If we go looking at them the usual way, “Oh they’ll probably come in like this or like that. She’s always saying this or being like that.” Instead of going in with your guard and your vision and those negative expectations, go in praying.

You know, sometimes the Lord will use your quiet nature, your soft answer, or even no response to minister to them. If we go in prepared, we may see a harvest we were not expecting. Because you choose to minister to them with his love and kindness, this could be the year and season God brings them in. I want us to have our eyes completely open and not see them for what we expected, but see them through God's eyes. See them through the haze and the smoke screens. Hear what God is saying in the midst of all that is going on.

“A person may think their own ways are right, but the LORD weighs the heart.” Proverbs 21:2

Often we see people out in public with a sign, and we think, "oh, he should go get a job, or there are institutions for him to be able to get on his feet; there's this, and there's that." What has God called us to do? He has called us to the lost, and the hurting, the broken, to the shattered, and our first response shouldn't be, "well, he should go do this." It should be, "God give me your eyes. God help me to see this one as you see them. Is this someone you have let cross my path for me to minister to and help? Should I take a plate of my dinner and bring them food under that bridge where I know they are living or bring them a blanket so they are warm tonight?" What is it God wants us to see? If we constantly have our vision and ideas about how things may be. We might miss out on mega opportunities where God tries to open the door to let someone into his presence. Who knows if that person standing on the corner may be living in a nice house and driving a nice car? If God tells you to give them money, then do it. What difference does it make what they do with it? God told you to do it. God knows the end from the beginning, so we may question it when it comes up in our spirit.

You know we use wisdom in every area of life, but if we listen to the holy spirit and his word, we will know when he is telling us no, not this time, or that's not the one. A while back I was walking into a store where I saw a homeless man and his dog sitting outside by the door. Both of them looked a mess. I walked past, and he asked me for money, and I told him, "I don't carry cash," which I don't. He asked if I had something to eat, and I said, "I don't." Then I told him he could go in and pick out stuff he wanted, and I would pay for it. He went in and grabbed soup, crackers, water, things like that. The Lord showed me you'd never know if that was a homeless man or an angel that God was testing my heart to see if I was going to do what he wanted me to do. It breaks my heart when I hear other Christians bash people who are mentally ill, homeless, or on drugs. It's by the grace of God that that's not you or me! By the grace and mercy of God, we aren't in those same situations.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” -

We should be so thankful God has given us a roof over our head, a family to sit down at the table and eat, and the blessings he has brought our way. Yes, we may have dealt with some rough things, but we are blessed when we look at the big picture. So I challenge you to look at the rest of God's world with his eyes. Don't just be thankful for the things you have in your home and the things God has given you. Thank God that he can give you his vision. He can cause you to be sensitive to your neighbor's needs. Maybe they don't have anyone, or their family doesn't speak to them. God may tell you to invite them to your home and that may be the catalyst of them accepting Christ and coming to know Christ as their personal savior. So don't walk around with your eyes wide shut; walk around with them wide open with God's lenses. Amen

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”

Thank you so much for joining me again today and don’t forget to share this with a friend.

See you next time!

Bj Pons