Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Luke 6:41 [NIV].
How do you look at people? I found it very difficult to look people in the eye when I was a teenager. It is just such an intense exchange of information about each other, making yourself vulnerable to unspoken judgements and unkind thoughts.
It can be easy to get distracted by how someone looks, whether a spot or wrinkle, fat or thin, attractive or less attractive features! It is easy to start making judgements, making assumptions about their lifestyle, maybe deciding whether you want to spend time with them or not.
Of course this behaviour is entirely human. It is recognised in scripture that “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart”.
Something I have found helpful when approaching people is an “unconditional, positive regard”, a phrase which I picked up in a listening skills course. By deciding to think of people in this way I find it easier to view then with a more Godly, non-judgemental attitude. I also find it helpful to pray about the encounters I will have with people, both those known and unknown.
Today, pray for your eyes, that you will see others as God sees them.
Jon Seaton
No comments:
Post a Comment