When you walk down the street, what do you see? That guy from a bad family who grew up to be everything you expected them to be? That bum who doesn't work, looking for a handout? What do you see when you look at others? We see, too often, with eyes that are jaded. We don't see what brought someone to the point that our judgmental eyes see right now, nor the generational weight that brought them to that point, nor the struggles they faced, nor the points in their life where godly council wasn't given, and life altering choices were made.
When Jesus walked the earth, He didn't see with eyes of flesh, but He saw with the Spirit. He said "“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you." Matthew 5:38-42
Do you notice what He did not say? He didn't say "Assume what they would do with it if you helped them." He didn't say "Give to them if you know they're a good person." He said to do this to our enemies! To not retaliate, but, in fact, bless. This is what I mean about seeing with eyes of the Spirit. We forget, sometimes, that we were once broken beyond repair, that we were once dead in our transgressions, yet God came and made us new through Jesus. This same Jesus who loved His enemies and prayed for those who persecuted Him. This same Jesus who did not retaliate as he was slapped, cursed, spit on, beaten, and nailed to a tree, but cried out "Forgive them father, they know not what they do." He saw a world lost and in need of a savior, so He gave His life. Then He sent us to represent Him in this world. Let us, then, die to ourselves, that we may see His glory, and His Kingdom come to those who have no hope, as we once did.
Matthew 5:43-38
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
