The LORD forbid that I should do this to my lord the king. I shouldn’t attack the LORD’s anointed one, for the LORD himself has chosen him. I Samuel 24:6 NLT
What I see is often not what God observes.
Recently I was messaged on Facebook by a student I taught 22 years ago…a student who seemed to have no liking for me but who now was informing me I had been her favorite teacher. Her contact started me wondering about other students I had taught who were now adults and old enough to have families of their own. So I began searching Facebook for the names I could remember. I discovered a number of former students. When I clicked on their profiles, I was amazed. The ones that appeared unmotivated and rebellious when I taught them had turned out alright after all. They were married and had children. Some owned their own businesses. Others had followed and achieved their dreams. My search’s findings reminded me that I don’t often see the full picture, nor do I normally see as God does.
How some viewed King Saul wasn’t the way David looked at him. While running for his life from a maddened king, David had at least two opportunities to kill Saul. Both times he refused. Even though Saul was his sworn enemy, David knew that momentarily he was the Lord’s anointed king of the nation. One student, in particular, who I branded a failure, now owns his own business. Another, who had little initiative, is living his dream.
Where I see failure, God sees potential. Where I see lack of concern or initiative, God sees promise. After all, people are created in God’s image. That in itself makes them worthy of my love and gives them the power to be anything God wants them to be. When I see addictions, God sees a wonderful testimony of his power to deliver—a testimony they can share with others who need hope.
David’s men saw an enemy; David saw the Lord’s anointed. What do you see when you look at others?
Prayer: God of mercy and grace, enable us to see others as You see them.
______________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment