Monday, October 5, 2009

What glasses are you wearing?

Yesterdays sermon impacted me and I want to share it with you!

Pastor spoke of glasses and the ones we wear or don't wear effecting the way we see everything. It make me think of any one of my days, how I view people I come in contact with, how I see them graciously or judgmentally.

1 Samuel 16:7 says..."The Lord does not look at the things man looks at . Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
I am thankful He looks at me this way...the heart and not the outward appearance cause frankly I can look quite ugly sometimes. Shouldn't I too then look at others this way? Occasionally, I find myself giving others the grace and acceptance the Lord gives me but much less often than I should expect from myself.

I have often found myself saying to husband or kids," be nice, who knows what is going on in their life right now!" Then other times, in my own conscience it doesn't register. I surely expect others to see me as God sees me, then I don't do the same for them.

What's the answer to the dilemma you ask?
To wear the right glasses. It's a choice...like loving those who are difficult to love. It's a choice...to put on the glasses of grace and humility.

So I ask you...Do you see clearly?

...For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Matthew 25:35-40

Lord, open the eyes of my heart that I might see others the way you see them! And Father, when they look at me let them see You!

I'm thanking in advance for...

116. clarity in my vision
117. challenges to grow me deeper
118. opportunities to give a God kind of grace to those around me
119. check ups for my character
120. sermons that make sense
121. prayers with touch
122. growth you can feel

1 comment:

Ann Voskamp @Holy Experience said...

Oh.
Yes!
This... to wear glasses of gratitude...
Be thou my vision.
-- and yes -- growth you can feel!

You bless...