How Does God See You?
How Does God See You? | August 11, 202
Are you in the habit of allowing the negative opinion of others concerning yourself to control you? Do you have a low view of yourself as well? Whether or not you do at the moment, the reality is that we often make the mistake of thinking those unfavorable perspectives belong to God.
Everybody has a past; some of that timeline may be embarrassing or unspeakable. Regardless of your story, God's saving plan of redemption is greater. For example, in John's eyewitness account, Jesus' mercy toward a woman illustrates the contrast between people's opinions versus God's perspective:
John 8:2-11a records, "At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.3 The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?' 6 They were using this question as a trap in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, 'Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.' 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 11 'No one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared..."
Notice first that the religious leaders had an agenda. The fact that they brought the woman and not the man, and John's statement about their real motive, reveals the agenda was selfish as much as it was self-righteous. They saw this woman as a prop in their judgmental theater.
Thus, they were not interested in upholding Moses' Law. Instead, they sought to entrap Jesus to hold onto their monopoly of influence. If Jesus said, "Stone her," they could accuse him of not being compassionate. But if He spared the woman, He would be guilty of not obeying the Law. However, Jesus profoundly upheld the Law of Moses yet still showed mercy through His response. He said the person with no sin should cast the first stone, but there were no takers! One by one, the judgmental religious elitists were disarmed of their weapons and left.
Finally, after the dust settled and the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees left, Jesus spoke directly with the woman. He told her there was no condemnation or judgment because, thankfully, God doesn't see us as a sinner or a means to an end. He sees us as persons made right with Him through His Son's sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. Knowing this, choose to see yourself as God sees you! You are a child of God, forgiven, saved, set apart, and royalty as far as heaven is concerned.
Are you in the habit of allowing the negative opinion of others concerning yourself to control you? Do you have a low view of yourself as well? Whether or not you do at the moment, the reality is that we often make the mistake of thinking those unfavorable perspectives belong to God.
Everybody has a past; some of that timeline may be embarrassing or unspeakable. Regardless of your story, God's saving plan of redemption is greater. For example, in John's eyewitness account, Jesus' mercy toward a woman illustrates the contrast between people's opinions versus God's perspective:
John 8:2-11a records, "At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.3 The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?' 6 They were using this question as a trap in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, 'Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.' 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?' 11 'No one, sir,' she said. 'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared..."
Notice first that the religious leaders had an agenda. The fact that they brought the woman and not the man, and John's statement about their real motive, reveals the agenda was selfish as much as it was self-righteous. They saw this woman as a prop in their judgmental theater.
Thus, they were not interested in upholding Moses' Law. Instead, they sought to entrap Jesus to hold onto their monopoly of influence. If Jesus said, "Stone her," they could accuse him of not being compassionate. But if He spared the woman, He would be guilty of not obeying the Law. However, Jesus profoundly upheld the Law of Moses yet still showed mercy through His response. He said the person with no sin should cast the first stone, but there were no takers! One by one, the judgmental religious elitists were disarmed of their weapons and left.
Finally, after the dust settled and the self-righteous scribes and Pharisees left, Jesus spoke directly with the woman. He told her there was no condemnation or judgment because, thankfully, God doesn't see us as a sinner or a means to an end. He sees us as persons made right with Him through His Son's sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. Knowing this, choose to see yourself as God sees you! You are a child of God, forgiven, saved, set apart, and royalty as far as heaven is concerned.
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