Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

Today let’s focus on God’s view of the unknown people.

In today’s scripture, Matthew 7:21-23 (NLT), Jesus said…
[21] “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. [22] On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ [23] But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

And in a companion scripture, Matthew 25:41-46 (NLT) He also said….
[41] “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. [42] For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. [43] I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’ [44] “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’ [45] “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’ [46] “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Consider…
Have you ever noticed many of Jesus’ interactions were with people who were deemed unworthy by religious leaders?

For example, Mark 2:14-17 (NLT) shares the story of Jesus attending an unexpected dinner party…
[14] As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Levi got up and followed him. [15] Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) [16] But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?” [17] When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

The religious people calling Jesus’ dinner companions scum reveals three things…

• The religious people held Jesus in high esteem
• The religious people were self-righteous bigots
• The religious people cared more about worldly reputations than Godly inspirations.

I fear far too many of us share these same religious characteristics still today.

Martin Luther King Jr. famously said that 11 a.m. on Sunday morning was “the most segregated hour of the week” across the United States.

While Dr. King’s statement is associated with racial lines, I believe it could also be extended to…

• Economic segregation
• Worship styles
• Denominations
• Political affiliations
• Lifestyles

…I believe that a reconciliation minded God looks unfavorably on the partiality of those who claim to be His children.

As a father of five very unique children I totally understand God’s perspective. You see I have tried to show all of them love unconditionally, mercy unendingly and grace unlimitedly, so it saddens me when they don’t do the same with their siblings and others.

Fortunately you don’t need to rely on my belief to understand God’s perspective, James 2:9 (NLT) admonishes…
[9] But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

Better yet, Jesus Himself explains in Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)…
[43] “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. [44] But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! [45] In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. [46] If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. [47] If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. [48] But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Jesus’ words get to the heart of the matter. Our issues aren’t with the unknown or unconsidered, they are with those we consider undeserving.

The primary flaw with labeling people undeserving is that it ignores the mirrors that God shows us in…

• Romans 3:23-24 (NLT): [23] For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. [24] Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
• Romans 5:6-8 (NLT): [6] When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. [7] Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. [8] But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
• Ephesians 2:3-5 (NLT): [3] All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. [4] But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, [5] that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)

…The Holy Spirit is emphasizing that God…

• Loves us unconditionally
• Shows us mercy unendingly
• Gives grace unlimitedly

That’s why He says to His followers, in Ephesians 4:1-6 (NLT)…
[1] Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. [2] Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. [3] Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. [4] For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. [5] There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all.

Reading that passage makes me think we should treat everyone like beloved siblings in Christ.

In fact, Colossians 3:12-17 (NLT) emphasizes…
[12] Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. [13] Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. [14] Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. [15] And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. [16] Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. [17] And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.

Clearly, God wants us to follow His Son’s footsteps and live a life of reconciliation and inclusion of others.

Another thing that has stood out to me is how Jesus used unworthy Samaritans to reveal who He is and how He thinks…

Recall the woman at the well who revealed He was the Messiah, was from Samaria. And in the parable of the Good Samaritan, it was the unchurched person that cared for and helped the churched person in need, which fellow churched folks ignored.

The Holy Spirit is telling us to be careful not to miss God when He shows up through different people that we may disregard.

Hebrews 13:1-3 (NLT) exhorts…
[1] Keep on loving each other as brothers and sisters. [2] Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! [3] Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

The Holy Spirit is saying the LORD works in mysterious ways, which includes through unexpected people. Therefore, treat everyone like they could be God incarnate.

The last example the Holy Spirit is showing me is how Jesus chose an unaware, inexperienced, unindoctrinated and uninitiated child to illustrate a Kingdom mindset.

Matthew 18:1-5 (NLT) says…
[1] About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?” [2] Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. [3] Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. [4] So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. [5] “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me.

Notice in addition to Jesus saying that we must become like little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, He also said that welcoming such a person for Him is the same as welcoming Him. There was a popular saying of ‘What Would Jesus Do’ (W.W.J.D), which was the rage of Christians for awhile. I wonder how would we see others if we had Jesus’ eyes?

That thought makes me think of 1 Samuel 16:7 (NLT), when God was choosing the next King of In Israel. The verse says…
[7] But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

What if we could see others’ hearts the way God does? I believe we would show more love, extend more mercy and give more grace. If we saw the innocence of others, the way we see a little child, we would extend to them what Colossians 3 exhorts…

• tenderhearted mercy
• kindness
• humility
• gentleness
• patience
• Make allowance for each other’s faults
• and forgive

…just like Jesus did with us

My final thought is we’re all…

• Made by the same creator
• Guilty of the same Sin
• Loved by the same Father
• Died for by the same Son
• Redeemed by the same blood

…if we focus more on our sameness in God we’ll see the differences of others less.

If people go unseen by you, God said you’ll be unknown by Him! 🤔

Today’s song is…
If We Had Your Eyes

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)