"Eyes of Grace: Seeing Potential in Others as Jesus Does"
Scripture: Mark 12:30-31 (NASB)
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Introduction
Today, we're diving into the simple yet profoundly challenging words of Jesus: "Love your neighbor as yourself." As Christians, we know this is our command, but what does it truly look like to live it out in the way that Jesus intends? It means seeing people beyond their present situations, beyond their faults, beyond their pasts. Jesus calls us to see people as He sees them—not defined by the challenges they face but by the incredible potential God has placed within each of them. When we see with the eyes of Jesus, we see not just who someone is today but who they can become through Him.
Illustration: The Sculptor and the Stone
Imagine a master sculptor who walks through a quarry, looking for the right piece of stone for a new sculpture. To anyone else, the stone he selects is just a rough, irregular rock with bumps, cracks, and jagged edges. It seems ordinary, even flawed. But when the sculptor sees it, he doesn’t just see a chunk of rock. He sees what it could become—a masterpiece in his hands.
With each strike of his chisel, he removes the rough edges and carves away unnecessary parts, revealing the shape he had envisioned all along. Bit by bit, the stone transforms. Over time, what was once just a rough block becomes a beautiful work of art, full of meaning and purpose, perfectly crafted according to the sculptor’s vision.
In the same way, Jesus sees us not as the flawed, rough people we might appear to be today but as who we can become in Him. When we see others through His eyes, we see their potential. We recognize that, just like the sculptor, God is at work, chiseling away the rough edges to reveal the masterpiece He sees within each person. It’s a vision that doesn’t focus on present imperfections but on the incredible potential God has placed within us all.
- Loving Through Jesus’ Eyes: Beyond Faults and Failures
- Jesus’ command to love (Mark 12) is rooted not only in feeling affection but in seeing others with the eyes of grace. Jesus looked at the sinner, the lost, and the broken, and He saw a future redeemed by His love.
Consider the story of the Apostle Peter. When Peter met Jesus, he was just an ordinary fisherman, rough around the edges, prone to mistakes, and very impulsive. But Jesus didn’t see just a fisherman. He saw “the rock” upon which He would build His church. He saw the leader Peter would become, despite Peter’s denials and doubts.
- When we look at people, do we see only what’s right in front of us, or do we see who they could become through the love of God? Seeing people as Jesus does means looking beyond the surface. It’s recognizing that everyone is on a journey and that our responsibility as believers is to encourage, support, and point them to the one who can transform them—Christ Jesus.
- When you see people I encourage you to remember two things; R& R and ESP
- R&R – Recognize and Responsibility
- ESP = Encourage – Support – Point
- Embracing God’s Vision of Potential for Others
- Jesus sees our hidden potential, and He challenges us to embrace that vision for others. This is what makes our love for others authentic and powerful. Think of the woman caught in adultery, brought before Jesus by men eager to stone her. They saw her mistake, her sin. Jesus, however, saw someone forgiven, restored, and valued. He said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11).
- When we view people with Jesus’ eyes, we’re called to be agents of His grace, reminding others of the truth of their worth and potential. There’s a question we should ask ourselves whenever we encounter someone challenging to love or understand: “Lord, what do you see in them that I don’t?” This question shifts our focus from the visible to the spiritual, inviting God to show us His vision for each person.
- Example: Seeing Potential in a Difficult Co-worker
- Let’s say you have a co-worker named Alex, and working with them is a real challenge. They often seem negative, quick to criticize, and slow to collaborate. Over time, frustration builds, and it’s tempting to label Alex as difficult or hard to love. However, instead of letting that frustration guide your attitude, you pause and ask, “Lord, what do you see in Alex that I don’t?”
As you pray this, you feel led to focus on Alex’s strengths rather than just their faults. You begin to notice that, despite the rough edges, Alex is very detail-oriented and works hard to ensure projects meet a high standard. You realize that their critiques stem from a desire for excellence, even if it doesn’t always come across kindly.
With this new perspective, you feel led to extend more grace and look for ways to affirm Alex’s strengths. When you respond in kindness and encourage their contributions, something shifts. Alex starts to open up a little more, showing gratitude, and your relationship improves. While they’re not perfect, God has shown you a glimpse of their potential—someone who’s passionate about quality and capable of growth, just like you. This shift not only improves your interactions with Alex but also becomes an opportunity for God’s love to reach them in a way you might not have imagined.
- The Power of Speaking Life: Encouraging Others to Be Who They Can Become
- Jesus used words to lift others up and call them into their potential. He spoke life over His disciples, calling them the “salt of the earth” [salt is used for flavor, as a binder and stabilizer] (Matt 5:13)
and the “light of the world”, [light is used to illuminate] (Matt 5:14) and the “city on a hill.” [an example for all to see; unaffected or influenced by the world] (Matt 5:14) In a world full of negativity, how are we speaking life into others? Are our words aligning with what Jesus would say about them? Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “life and death are in the power of the tongue.” Notice that there are only two options here…life or death!
- One of the best ways we can begin to see others as Jesus does is by speaking words of hope and encouragement. We become a reflection [illumination] of His love when we encourage others not just to remain where they are but to grow into the person God has created them to be. Imagine if every word you spoke over someone could impact their journey with Christ. Wouldn’t we all want our words to be used to build up rather than tear down?
Example: Encouraging a Young Believer to Step Out in Faith
Imagine there’s a young man at your church named Josh. He’s new to his faith and very hesitant to step forward, often feeling unworthy and unsure of his abilities. Josh is talented and passionate but keeps telling himself he’s “just not ready” to serve or take on any leadership.
Instead of letting him sit in that self-doubt, you decide to speak life over him. After noticing his passion for helping others, you say, “Josh, I see God’s heart for people in you. You have a real gift for making others feel welcome and cared for. I think God has big plans to use that gift in you.”
Hearing these words, Josh’s eyes light up, and he feels encouraged to pray about where God may want to use him. Over time, he steps out to volunteer in a church outreach program. Your words were the seed of encouragement that helped him step into a role he didn’t see himself ready for. He begins growing, learning, and even impacting others along the way. By affirming what God has placed in him, you didn’t just make him feel good in the moment—you set him on a path to becoming the person God created him to be, showing him that his worth and purpose are found in Christ.
- Reflecting Jesus’ Grace and Patience in Our Relationships
- Love, as Jesus defines it, is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13). Jesus has immense patience with each of us; He sees our flaws yet chooses to love and guide us anyway. Think about how Jesus treated Zacchaeus, the tax collector despised by his community. Jesus saw through Zacchaeus' greed and past dishonesty, recognizing his curiosity and his willingness to change. He called Zacchaeus down from the tree and dined with him, which changed Zacchaeus’ life forever.
- Are we willing to be that patient with people in our own lives? Are we ready to see them not as they are but as they could be? Reflecting Jesus' love means consistently going the extra mile, giving others the grace and patience we, too, have received.
- Example: Showing Patience to a Family Member Struggling with Addiction
- Imagine you have a family member named Sarah who has been struggling with addiction for years. She’s gone through multiple cycles of relapse and recovery, and each time, hope seems to rise and fall. Many in the family have grown tired and even resentful, seeing her as someone who may never truly change. It would be easy to give up, to see Sarah as “just an addict” and assume this is who she’ll always be.
But instead, you choose to be patient, praying for her daily, and reminding yourself that God sees more in her than her current struggles. You decide to reach out regularly, not with lectures or disappointment, but with understanding and love. When she shares her setbacks, you listen and encourage her to keep trying, gently reminding her of God’s forgiveness and His strength to help her through.
Over time, Sarah starts to believe that she is more than her addiction, that she is a beloved child of God with a future and a hope. Through your patience and persistence, she sees a reflection of God’s unfailing love. One day, she reaches out for help and takes steps toward lasting recovery.
In showing Sarah the same patience God has shown you, you’ve become an anchor of grace in her life, helping her see herself not as a failure but as someone with potential and a purpose in God’s plan. Your willingness to go the extra mile reflects Jesus’ love, opening a door for healing and transformation.
Conclusion: Learning to See With the Eyes of Jesus
As we wrap up today, I want to leave you with this challenge: ask Jesus to help you see people as He does. The prayer of our hearts should be, “Lord, let me see others with your eyes.” When we love others as Jesus does, we don’t love based on what they bring to the table or how easy they are to get along with. We love them because we see what they can become.
This week, consider taking a moment to look at those around you and ask God to show you their potential.
- Encourage someone who may feel unseen or unloved.
- Your words might be exactly what they need to be reminded of who they are in Christ.
- As we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, let us also love our neighbors in a way that reflects His grace, seeing them not as they are but as who they can become.
Closing Illustration: The Transformation of Nicky Cruz
Nicky Cruz grew up in Puerto Rico in a family torn apart by abuse, violence, and the occult. By the time he was a teenager, he’d left home, finding his place in the streets of New York City. Angry, violent, and desperate for belonging, Nicky became the leader of one of the most feared gangs, the Mau Maus. His life was marked by hate, and he was known to others only as a dangerous gang member, feared and often dismissed as irredeemable.
But then, one day, he met a preacher named David Wilkerson who saw something in Nicky that no one else could see. Instead of focusing on Nicky’s past or his actions, David saw him through the eyes of Christ. Despite Nicky’s threats and aggression, David persistently told him, “Jesus loves you, Nicky.” Nicky mocked him, threatened him, and even struck him, but David’s love for him didn’t waver.
Finally, something broke within Nicky. He later described it as feeling overwhelmed by a love he couldn’t understand. In an unexpected moment, Nicky gave his life to Christ, surrendering his anger and pain. From that point forward, he became a transformed man, devoting his life to sharing the message of Christ with others who felt lost and unloved.
Today, Nicky Cruz is a well-known evangelist, traveling the world and speaking to thousands about the redeeming love of Jesus. David Wilkerson’s ability to see him not for who he was but for who he could become in Christ led to a transformation that continues to impact countless lives.
As we consider Nicky’s story, let it remind us to see people as Jesus does—not defined by their past but by the potential of who they can be in Him. When we reflect Jesus’ love, as David did, we plant seeds that God can use to transform even the hardest of hearts. So let’s go forward, loving beyond what we see, believing in the power of God to change lives, and knowing that through Him, no one is beyond hope.
Closing Prayer
Let’s pray.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the love and grace you extend to each of us. Help us to see others with your eyes, to look past the surface and to love them as you do. Teach us to be patient and kind, to speak life and hope, and to encourage others to become who you created them to be. Lord, transform our hearts so that we might reflect your love to the world around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
