Friday: Further Thought ~ Seeing People Through Jesus’ Eyes
Further Thought:
Read Ellen G. White, “The Gospel in Samaria”, pages 103-111, in The Acts of the Apostles.
All around us people are seeking for the things of eternity. As Jesus so aptly put it, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matt. 9:37, NKJV). The problem was not with the harvest.
Image © Stan Myers from GoodSalt.com
With eyes divinely anointed, Jesus saw a plentiful harvest where the disciples saw only opposition. What was Christ’s solution to the problem? “Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Matt. 9:38, NKJV). The solution is to pray that God will send you out into His harvest.
Why not pray this prayer? “Lord, I am willing to be used for the advancement of Your kingdom. Open my eyes so that I can see the providential opportunities You are opening before me each day. Teach me to be sensitive to the people around me. Help me to speak words of hope and encouragement and share Your love and truth with those I come in contact with each day”. If you will pray this prayer, God will do some extraordinary things with your life.
Discussion Questions:
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While this study has concentrated on Jesus seeing the good and potential in others, particularly those who we sometimes overlook, it is important to note that Jesus was sometimes quite sharply critical. He reserved his greatest condemnation for those who appeared religious but were hypocritical.
Read Matt 23 for a blistering condemnation of those who claimed to be religious in Jesus time. Here are a couple of quotes just to illustrate:
... and there is more like that. Contrast that with his treatment of the woman taken in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more!". Or to Zaccheaus, the crooked tax collector, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.”
Hypocrisy has always been the big issue for those who claim to follow God. When we say one thing and practice another we scramble the message of the Gospel. And in the process, we forget about the needs of others. The very best defence against the sin of hypocrisy is to reflect the love of Jesus into the lives of those we come in contact with every day.
Regarding the very last question for discussion: to answer this question, we should refer to what Jesus taught in Matthew 10:14. Notice also how Saul was visited by Jesus Himself, and that some cases must be left to the Lord. In the story of Mark 5 and the demoniac, Jesus had to leave, but left a powerful witness which led the people to be very receptive when Jesus returned to them a while later(Mark 7:31). The Holy Spirit must be the power of our lives if we would work correctly in every case. It is not for us to work alone, but as “laborers together with God”(1 Cor 3:9).
Matthew 7:6: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces” (NKJV)?
Can someone please explain? The section Verses talks about judging others. How does this fit?
Roxann, see my comment above, and consider the account of Jesus at Nazareth in Luke 4:14-31, when He left after they tried to kill Him for what He taught. I would also add: Matt 10:14,23. Resistance is not the same as outright rejection, but by the wisdom of the indwelling Holy Spirit we will know what move to make if seeking guidance at every step. Notice also Acts 18:4-6; 19:29-20:1; 28:23-28.
Roxann, I find it interesting when someone singles out a verse in the middle of a message. If you read the entire chapter, I believe Jesus is telling us not to judge others and that if we treat others as we would be treated, He will take care of “the dogs and the swine”. The verses before and the verses after, are our guide. The very next verse, vs 7, says “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, etc.” Jesus is not talking about stuff here, He is talking about wisdom. At least that is how I read it.
Hi Roxanne - Yes, Matt.7:6 is an interesting directive and worth to be correctly understood!
Matt.7:1-5 provides the context to it. First, Jesus directs us not to judge because we have a 'beam' in our eyes; meaning - our vision is distorted. Therefore, not being able to see the complete picture, we should 'not judge' others carelessly/arbitrarily - being judgemental.
But in verse 6, He cautions us to be *careful*, because the Word of God is 'sharper than a two-edged sword', Heb.4:12. It can cause people who do not regard/accept the authority of God to have a violent reaction; therefore, we are admonished to use *judgement*/discernment when we speak to others about the Glory of God; assessing the circumstances we find ourselves in.
Matt.7:6 is advising to weigh carefully, be *discerning* when engaging in witnessing.
Phil.1:9 ,10 - It admonishes us to use *spiritual judgement*.
Heb.5:13,14 - As we progress toward 'full age', we are able to *discern* both good and evil.
Rom.12:2 - Our mind is being renewed, and we will be able to *prove* what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
1John4:1 - We are admonished to *test* the spirit whether they are of God.
1Cor.14:29 - Again, we are admonished to *weigh carefully* what is said.
1King3:9 - Salomon prays for wisdom: "Give therefor they servant an understanding heart" ...
You can see that many words express the same meaning. I hope this is helping to clarify the meaning and its application in action - *judge*!
The 'Word of God' is reflected through us to the world that is perishing; Jesus is the 'Light' of the world -John 8:12. HIS message is reflected through us. The Light in us is like the light emanating from the lighthouse placed at the edge were the land meets the sea; it reflects off its mirrors mounted inside.
Our house needs to be build on solid ground before we can become the lighthouse which God's Light can shine through - Matt.7:24-27
The light of the lighthouse is not sent out directly, it is reflected and enhanced by the mirrors it is fist pointed toward. Therefore, the light the captain sees, is a reflection of the original light. Should these mirrors be warped, the light will become distorted and not able to effectively help the captain navigate his ship toward the safety of the harbor.
This is how God's Light is reflected/directed through us first, before it is seen by the lost of this world. It remains God's Light, but will it clearly point to the harbour and its safety?
Matt.5:13-16 - The Sermon on the Mount contains Jesus' invaluable spiritual wisdom teachings. Among them are the references to us being Light and Salt that 'they may see your good works and *glorify your Father* which is in Heaven'. The light and the salt are to direct us into the arms of the heavenly Father. We are the reflection of the Source - God! It is His Light and His Salt that is to be recognized through us.
This is the true aim of all 'good works' we have been called to engage in - to GLORIFY GOD THE FATHER IN HEAVEN, to let the world know that He is God, and that they are safe when embraced by Him! Focused, directional Light-'beams' carry the 'good works'. They emanate from and are received by the same power - God!The harbor and the Light are both Himself.
Acknowledging our heavenly Father, implies that we are His Children. His Children see the world around them through His eyes. We have become aware that by being carriers of His salt, we flavor everything we do with God's spiritual Truth; we know that when we our Heavenly Father's Light shines through us, that it needs to reflect the source clearly, accurately, and not become distorted through/by our physical and spiritual shortcomings.
As Children of God, we have accepted the highest calling that life offers humanity! Acceptance has changed the focus of our lives completely! No longer is our focus on 'Self', but now we are about our Father's business - just as Jesus was.Luke2:49.
We need to make every effort that His Light does not become warped when it is reflected through us; any distortion will do immediate harm to the Glory of God.
Luke10:2 - 'The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few. Why is it that there are only a few laborers? Many might be willing, but not all are called!
Matt.9:38 - 'Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that HE will send forth laborers into His harvest'
Will He find us among them?
Regarding "Cast not your pearls before swine", I had read somewhere that it meant to not push your ideas onto others who are not in the same place you are spiritually. Whose pearls are they? They are yours.
Matt 7:1-6 puzzles me, it seems so much at odds with what Jesus normally said, so harsh for someone who spent time with sinners. So I looked at the context of the chapter which is part of the sermon on the Mount, Jesus said - judge not, don't be a hypocrite, take the log out your own eye first. Don't give part of the holy sacrifice to wild scavenger dogs who can turn and attack you, Don't give the pearl of great price to unclean pigs who wallow in filth because they will not appreciate it and bury it in their mud.
To me the message is when you meet someone who is like the demoniac, or a savage dog or a filthy pig don't start by condemning them nor sharing the gospel, they are not ready to hear the truth, and will delight in dragging you and the holy Word down with them into a pit of sewerage.
Matt 7:12 Jesus goes on to say treat them like you would like to be treated and when they ask Matt 7:7 you can share the truth and the love of Jesus.
Listen to Solomon Prov 9:7-9 it is no use trying to correct a scoffer or to rebuke a wicked man you will only shame or harm yourself. Sharing the truth with a reasonable person will benefit you both.