Look at what is right before your eyes...--2 Corinthians 10:7
There is a vast difference between a casual glance and really seeing. We look at many things, people, events, etc.; but we are often guilty of seeing very little.
The Greek sentence that makes up verse seven is a little difficult. The heart of meaning however, is clear: we tend to make judgements based on a casual glance. We categorize people, based on a surface look. And as people of faith, we must look deeper. We must see beyond what is merely external and temporary.
To put it Paul's language, actually the opposite of, we tend to walk by sight and not by faith (see 2 Corinthians 5:7). We must learn to continually rely on Christ's work within us to flip this script. Again Paul: So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view (2 Corinthians 5:16).
In the movie Avatar Neytiri says to Sully, "I see you." The meaning of the statement is that she sees beyond the external, much deeper into who he really is. She sees his heart, his soul. (God is amazing, that he can plant such truth even in a pantheistic fantasy movie.)
Look at me...
People all around us are crying out to be seen. Really seen. As are we. We each have a great need and desire to be seen and known. We are uniquely created by God. And our uniqueness, our giftedness, our specialness should be noticed and celebrated. We are reflections of the creative God who takes pleasure in his children.
We must open our eyes and see - truly see- what is right before us: beauty, need, ability, brokeness, and on. All of this lies behind what is external and temporary in the faces and lives of others. (And by the way, we must look in the mirror with the same intense focus.)
For now...
D
