We often find ourselves resistant to accepting people who don’t rise to meet our values of life or fit within our own expectations or understanding of life.  Even when we see signs of change, we may quietly hold to the belief, “once a certain kind of person, always that kind of person.”  In doing so, we leave little room for forgiveness, redemption, grace, or the possibility that God is still working in them.  We see them for what or who we think they are rather than who they may become by God’s grace.  And we don’t mind practicing the concept of “guilt by association” labeling others in ways that diminish their worth and limit our ability to see their future and potential.  And often, we expect others to share the same narrow judgment we have formed.

         It’s difficult for us to see beyond the limited vision we have of people.  When we judge people by what we have known of them, we forget that true change may begin quietly and grow gradually.  A changed mind and heart may not be obvious at first, but grace is often doing its work beneath the surface.  When God changes our own hearts, we begin to see people differently — not only as they are, but as they may become by God’s generous grace.  We begin to recognize the sacred possibility and potential within a life touched by mercy.  What once appeared to us as common, broken, or beyond hope can become a precious and priceless witness to the transforming grace of God.  And that transformation begins with a changed mind and heart surrendered to Christ for everyone.

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Merciful Christ, open our eyes to see others through Your mercy and not through our judgments. Soften our hearts and renew our narrow minds teaching us to believe in the redeeming power of Your grace.

         It is sobering to recognize how easily the human heart can close itself off from an accepting relationship of others.  Sometimes we reject people for reasons that are personal, professional, or entirely unfounded.  At other times, our resistance may grow out of envy, jealousy, discomfort, or a simple difference in personality.  Yet once our minds and hearts have chosen to hold someone at a distance, it can become difficult to hear or acknowledge anything good about them or to receive what God may be doing through them.

         By contrast, it is difficult to hold resentment toward someone who has brought meaningful change into our lives.  When someone has been called by God to bring blessing, healing, encouragement, or meaningful change into our lives, our hearts often respond differently.  Gratitude has a way of softening resentment.  When a person becomes an instrument of good, especially when their witness helps open the door to a deeper relationship with God, we are reminded that grace can come through unexpected people and unexpected places.  It has the power to open the way to a relationship with God where none existed before.

         These two very different responses reveal the spiritual condition of the heart.  A hardened heart resists friendship, acceptance and grace.  But a heart awakened by faith becomes open to the good news of the gospel and the acceptance of God’s unconditional love.  When God opens both the mind and the heart, transformation begins — not merely in how we see others, but in how we receive the grace God is offering through Jesus Christ.

• What can we do to open our minds and our hearts to the acceptance of others through the gospel of Jesus Christ?
• How will this openness impact a change in our relationship with others and with God?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Loving God, Lord, soften our minds and hearts where they have become hardened, and resistant to seeing others with humility. Teach us to love and walk in the transforming power of the gospel.

         All of us are born within the ruling power of some leader.  And most of us are unknowing of those who rule when we are born. Because of our newness to life and the world, who they are may be insignificant.  Additionally, those who live within the times of those rulers reign are — in some very real ways — beholden to the authority of those in charge.  There may even be a hierarchy of leaders, each given authority over some area to rule and reign as they see fit.  But when God calls a person into service, who the leaders are of a nation, state, country or region are unimportant.  What becomes important is what that person called by God has been tasked to do according to the role they have been called to fill.  John came as one crying in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  It didn’t matter to him or to God who the leaders of those nations were, especially since God rules over all.  Whatever John was doing in the wilderness before he was called to preach required a change of both his heart and mind to undertake the will of God and do it.

         In reality, that’s what it takes for each of us.  Whatever we’re doing and whomever it is that’s in charge of the nation/state in which we live when God calls upon us will require a change of mind and heart on our part in order to believe and become obedient to God’s word.  Those who heard John’s message of repentance had to be transformed in heart and mind to confess their sins — the reality of who they truly were — and to repent — to embrace the acceptance of their new life as an act of obedience.  Having a changed mind and heart will create a new mindset and heart condition conducive to God’s influence.

• How would you explain your changed mind and heart that led you to believe in and follow Christ?
• What would you share of your story that would encourage others to do the same?

Todays Prayer

Today’s Prayer —
Gracious God, continue transforming my mind and heart that I may always be obedient and open to your call upon my life.