Jesus Eyes

As humans, our default setting is one of selfishness. We can try to fight it and we can even try to reprogram ourselves to put others first, but our initial—and usually strongest—inclination will always be to put ourselves ahead of others. That’s just the way we are; it’s our nature. But being Christians, we’re called to serve, to live a life more centered on the wellbeing of others so that we may show Jesus to those who choose not to believe or simply haven’t heard the Good News. And yet, I think most of us fail at this on a daily basis—me being the worst offender of the lot—because it’s far too easy for us to get wrapped up in our own lives. School; work; family; friends; they all serve as a deterrent for our attention when it should be focused upon the caring and betterment of others. So how do we change that? How do we continuously fight to take the focus off of ourselves so that we can focus on those who need Him (and us) the most?

My buddy Jake Dudley once wrote a piece for this space in which he described true Biblical love as “…acceptance, grace, honor, and trust—among many other things—that you give to someone without having expectations of receiving anything in return. And you give it all no matter what.” Consider those words and weigh the astounding truth that they hold. No one could have said it any better.
We are called to love this world with all that we have so that they may see the truth of Jesus inside of us. But again I ask…how? In my honest and unlearned opinion, I believe it takes a concise effort on our part to simply see this world as Jesus does. We have to adopt Jesus eyes. We must flood this world with the love, acceptance, and grace that He has provided to us.

The coworker who’s hurting through a rough time in their life? It’s our responsibility to try to provide them some level of comfort and compassion, to show them that they are never alone in their struggles.
The family member or friend who betrays us or talks bad about us behind our back? It’s up to us to see past our own hurt feelings and provide forgiveness and grace to them, even though we want to choke them out.
The lover who cheats on us and breaks our heart? We may want to scrap a jagged key down the side of their car, but as much as it pains us, it’s our calling to continue to love them just as Jesus does…with mercy and grace.

Is it always easy? Actually, it rarely is. God is a holy entity; a sovereign Being who is righteous and without fault, yet we’re supposed to try to achieve the capacity to love as He does. Some times it seems down right impossible, doesn’t it? The truth is that this world is craving for the goodness of God. And as the flesh and blood of His work, it falls on us to be that example, to see and love others just as He would if He were still walking this earth.

We’ll fall short and we’ll let Him down. That part is inevitable. But to keep loving, to keep caring, to keep giving all we have to this world, that’s where we can truly be like Jesus.

That’s how we can see with Jesus eyes.

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