It's easy to judge. It's easy to point fingers and say, "How dare
you?!?". I know this all too well. I know how easy it is to allow
yourself to fall into that "holier than thou" way of thinking. I am a
friendly person, but I have the tendency to be critical. I have been
guilty of talking about people behind their backs....of being two-faced
at times.
Now, some might say that this is just part of being human. But I refuse
to allow my human nature be an excuse for my sin. And that's what it is,
it's sin. As ugly as that may sound, it's true.
God has really convicted me of this. He has shown me how it's wrong to
tread down this path, even if the person may deserve it (in your mind,
anyway!). He has shown me my need to repent and begin living like Jesus.
As a Christian, I am called to love people as Jesus did. That means not
judging them. That means loving them where they are in their lives. That
means not focusing on the ugly parts of their lives.
This DOES NOT mean condoning the sin. This does not mean approving of
sin that might be in that individuals life, but it does mean accepting a
person as they are. It means that you realize that like you, they are
not perfect. It means overcoming that Pharisee outlook. It means ridding
yourself of the "Thank God I'm not like them" attitude. Because, guess
what, you and I are sinners too! We are redeemed sinners, but sinners
none the less.
Once again, love and acceptance does not mean ignoring the reality of
sin. We cannot do that, because if we disregard sin, we disregard our
need of a Savior, and goodness knows we CANNOT do that.
What we can do is surrender ourselves to God and tell Him to use us to
touch others. Truly loving people means that we are allowing Jesus to
lead us to people, love them, and testify His love to them.
Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the once forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see...
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the once forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see...
-Brandon Heath's "Give Me Your Eyes"
