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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.

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