Skip to main content

Seeing with the Eyes of Jesus

Matthew 28:19 command of Jesus is go and make disciples... The making of a disciple however is not in the 'selection' but in the 'loving' - in 'patiently seeing individuals with the eyes of Jesus'.
Let's take the interesting Jesus-Peter example.
Peter was one disciple of Jesus that was for sure, stuffed up with vigor and enthusiasm but lacked patience and character. So what did Jesus do? Live with the attitude of 'Oh, Peter not you again!', of-course not. The more 'Simon', Peter acted, the more Jesus even drew closer to him :)
  • Jesus: miraculously caught a net full of fish; giving Peter a good day - the day the fishes refused to swim in his favour.
  • Jesus: not only taught Peter to pray with other disciples, but also showed him how he prayed in secret.
  • Jesus: took Peter to intimate heights he did not take other disciples to - transfiguration.
  • Jesus: healed Peter's mother-in-law.
  • ...and so on and so forth.
  • Peter: denies knowing Jesus thrice (what more could be the icing on the cake).
  • Jesus: prior to Peter's denial assures him that He's prayed for him.
  • Peter: feels so sorry for denying his master - and thinks he's not worthy to go on - so went back fishing.
  • The angel's statement in Mark 16:7 show's that God in his infinite mercy and grace had Peter at heart.
  • Jesus: shows up to Peter to renounce Peter's thrice denial with love confession from Peter (John 21:15-17) to give him the blessed assurance.
  • Peter: pioneered the early church in response to the loving grace of Jesus.
  • Peter: dies as a martyr for his Master's gospel, seeing himself as one who received love undeserved.
*Jesus refused to see Peter the way the world saw him, but rather saw Peter as fit for his purpose. In like manner, Christ's love is the revealed secret by which we as the Church, can reach the world by the Spirit. John 8:11. 1 Corinthians 13.
We have to be ever ready to be the hands and feet of the Master by yielding to the Spirit. And we have to be encouraged to see with the eyes of Jesus, through his persisting holy-love - to make disciples.
Remain forever blessed.
Labels:

Popular posts from this blog

Accompanied by unfailing love

Ruth 1:1-22 NIV. I hope you had an enjoyable Christmas break. Happy New Year! The Book of Ruth has been called the most beautiful short story ever written because of its simple narrative. A narrative that shows how God’s provision for our needs or challenges is often woven into the simple acts of human kindness. Chapter 1 shows the kindness of a daughter-in-law, Ruth, to her mother-in-law, Naomi (v8, 16, 22), and we’ll see God at work through that. But first, the passage sets the context by introducing us to Naomi’s loss… Naomi lost her family… When Naomi (which means pleasant) is first introduced, we are told of her loss. A woman in a foreign land who lost her family (v1-5). She feels bitter, empty and afflicted by the Lord (v21). Why so? …Because Naomi knows Israel’s God to be the Almighty—Sovereign. He can bring famine to a disobedient Israel (v1) a...
Read more

Redeemed into a new life

Ruth 4:1-22 NIV. In today’s passage, Boaz follows up on his promise to Ruth (in 3:12-13) to redeem her. From Boaz’s redemption of Ruth, we get a peek into the pattern of God’s redemption through Jesus. So what does this redemption look like? It is selfless—a costly act, no other redeemer could pay, v1-12 When Boaz met with the closer guardian-redeemer, whom we called Bob, he asked Bob if he would redeem his kinsman’s properties. Bob said yes, then declined when he realised that this included his kinsman’s widow, which would affect his estate. This shows the inevitable selfish motive of any redemption act which is outside of God’s provision. However, Boaz, motivated by love, acquired Ruth, notwithstanding the cost. This costly and selfless act points us to God’s act of redemption through Jesus, our Redeemer, who, out of love, gave His life to save us (John...
Read more

Disciples are Blessed

Matthew 5:1-12 NIV. [Series on: The Blessed] How would you describe a blessed and happy life? One of my friends believes there’s only one happy person each week, the lottery winner, and the rest of us just have make-believe happiness. Maybe you share my friend's view or have your own picture of happiness. The Bible also has its own picture, and in this short series on the Blessed we'll see who are the blessed of Scripture. In today's passage, Jesus gathers His disciples to the mountainside, away from the crowd and teaches them what a truly blessed and happy life—beatitude—looks like. Jesus shows that a blessed life is the life of a disciple, those who are: Poor in spirit (v3, Psalm 42:1; 63:1): who depend on God in everything. Mourning (v4, Isaiah 61:2-3): who seek God’s rescue/forgiveness by repentance. Meek (v5, Psalm 37:9-11): who humbly wait for the Lord amidst life’s ...
Read more