How he views us changes our walk with him.
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When younger, in my arrogance and conceit, I thought I could understand why God loved me. I was pretty good. Loved him. Followed him...mostly. Decent mind. Decently good looking. But as I’ve aged, taken some blows, and recovered in part from that overwhelming self-confidence, I see myself more accurately. Now, I’m astounded that he loves me. Yes, I serve him. Yes, I’ve changed a lot. But I am far more of my inconsistencies. I better see transcendence, and the innate distance between us.
Then a message by my pastor, Chris Brown of North Coast Church of Vista, CA, totally disrupted not just how God viewed me, but in our Life Group’s discussion of it, comments by two ladies, Pat and Sheila, in our small group gave me a handle on my response. First, two parables from Matthew 13, the treasure in a field and the pearl of great price. I have always thought of that treasure as the kingdom of God, knowing him and Jesus. That is valid, but Chris proposed that these two followed the parable of the sower, where Jesus sowed the seed. Jesus being the main actor carries on into the parables about the hidden treasure and the pearl.
Combine them—Jesus is out working, finds the treasure and the pearl. That’s us. Then he “sells” all he has—his divinity, to take care of the sin in us. And Jesus rejoices at what he just received. Us. WOW! Jesus then asked in verse 51 if his followers understood that, they said yes, and he took the step that led to the wisdom of the two women in the group. Jesus next said if you get it, then share the treasures.
In discussing how we implement that, we talked about our hesitation. Our self-absorption with our own needs and concerns. Then, bingo, these women said how we need to pay more attention to people. To ask them about their needs. To ask if we can pray for them. To disrupt our regular daily goings and see the treasure that Jesus sees and seeks in all. Won’t that revolutionize us?
To see a trip to the market as an opportunity to bring up Jesus and ask questions. To see a visit to our mechanic for an oil change to ask about his life. We need an “other-orientation,” in contrast to our typical self-orientation. I’m haunted by the verse, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Ephesians 4:4-7).
Do we treasure others the way Jesus does? Maybe we can.
Kick Starting the Application
Do you try to consciously see the treasure that is other people like Jesus does? What most keeps you from that? What can you do this next week to express that treasure that is in people?