Through the Eyes of Jesus

Jesus once said, “Do not judge, unless you want to be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

This teaching, though it is not always easy, is a gift. It’s not that we shouldn’t hold each other accountable, we should. Jesus is simply reminding us that when we hate others or demonize others, it’s destructive – even to our own souls. 

I like what author Shane Claiborne writes: 

“When we look through the eyes of Jesus, we see new things in people. In the murderers, we see our own hatred. In the addicts, we see our own addictions. In the saints, we catch glimpses of our own holiness. We can see our own brokenness, our own violence, our own ability to destroy, and we can see our own sacredness, our own capacity to love and forgive. When we realize that we are both broken and beautiful, we are freed up to see others the same way…. We are made up of the same dust. We cry the same tears. No one is beyond redemption. No one.”

The point is when we see ourselves in others, we are better able to love them. And, we are better able to understand and love ourselves. 

Let us pray: Loving God, we remember Paul’s letter to the Romans where he wrote, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace…” Today, Lord, give us eyes to see ourselves and others as you see us. Fallen though we may be, we are your children. Heal us, redeem us, set us free from feeling as though we have to be judge of the world – so that we can love deeply and serve you, through Jesus Christ. Amen.