Tag Archives: 1 Chronicles 4:10

Seeing others -2-

Seeing others through God’s eyes is a transforming experience. It takes us away from our self-centered focus and leads us to seeing ourself and others as part of God’s plan. It leads us to becoming engaged in God’s plan ourselves. Asking God to see others through His eyes will expand your territories.

There was a big fuss over the “prayer of Jabez” a few years back. All we know about Jabez is that he prayed to God, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. 1 Chronicles 4:10.

I suspect many discovered this isolated prayer and claimed it as the mantra of their life for their own personal gain. Our Heavenly Father does love to bless his children even more than we earthly fathers love to bless our children. But when you meditate on John 3:16 (For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son…) don’t you think that God is interested in expanding more than our personal territory of riches? What if we let God expand the territory of our views, our passions, and our prayers?!

Jesus didn’t die just for those in the affluent parts of the world. (Yes, that probably includes all of us reading this on a computer, living in decent shelters, and seldom going without food and water for more than a few hours.) Seeing others through Jesus’ eyes is a prerequisite for loving others as He first loved us…while we were still sinners, undeserving of such love.

We don’t HAVE to love others. God will let us choose to live selfish lives if we insist. He will let us choose to depend on our own logic, our own financial nest egg, our own egocentric ambitions and hobbies. He will let us take the view of letting the rest of the world go to hell in a hand basket if we choose to be so self-inclined. But how has that worked for you so far? As for me (and yes, I’ve tried this route), living for self doesn’t bring real and lasting joy. Such a self-centered view separates us from the heart of God.

I have learned (and am still learning after nearly 42 years of marriage) that if I really want to grow and demonstrate my love for my wife, I need to spend more time with her, enjoying her presence and seeing the world through her eyes. The same is true with God. If we want to grow and demonstrate our love for Him, it begins with seeking His presence throughout each day, and asking Him to show us how to see the world through his eyes.

Imagine what seeing through open eyes looks like! Will you ask Him as you prepare for your day to see others as He sees them?