A Divine View

...He died for all, so that all those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake. So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values].
2nd Corinthians 5:15-16 AMP

Oftentimes, people are biased without being consciously aware of it. Think about this -  teenagers, tattoos, overweight, long-haired males, even driving a beat-up vehicle. We've talked about it a lot recently - being judged by worldly standards and so-called values. Being judged as less than without knowing the person.

One of my favorite lines from a Sandra Bullock movie, "...have you ever, like, seen somebody? And you knew that, if only that person REALLY knew you, they would, well, they would, of course, dump the perfect model that they were with, and realize that YOU were the one that they wanted to, just, grow old with." (Sorry, it was the first thing that popped into my head when I read verse 16 - regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values].) Bias based solely on what meets the eye. 

God is the originator of no prejudice whatsoever. One of the most well-known Scriptures, John 3:16 reads, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish... The whole world... Galatians 3:28 NLT bears out that Truth, There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. [underlined emphasis mine]. 

It's not that there aren't differences - obviously, there are - but our need for a savior is universal. And until we can see each other for who we are minus the trappings or distractions, we cannot see enough to recognize the need for God's greatest act of love - salvation through Jesus Christ.

The English Standard Version Study Bible had this to say about 'according to the flesh.' "When Christ was regarded from a worldly point of view, men rejected and crucified Him as a blasphemer and troublemaker. But from the divine viewpoint, Christ is the Messiah and Son of God, in whom the new creation and reconciliation with God is given."  God's view and opinion of life are vastly different from the world's and we are to be like Him.

Prayer:

Father,

           When we look at others, open our eyes to see with a pure heart so that we have Your divine view to see how best to serve their greatest need, to know them as You know them and love them as Your hands and heart extended. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen