I realised a number of years ago that it was very easy for me to make snap decisions about someone when I first met them, even before they said anything! I’m sure I’m not along in making predetermined assumptions/conclusions about others, just because of how they look or what I may have heard about them.
In realising this, I reflected those ‘initial assumptions’ I made about some people who I now consider to be good friends, and realised that if I had gone with my initial impression of them, we probably would have become the friends we are today.
I look at people and made assumptions, rather than show them unbiased love and grace. My attitude did not reflect Christ, and did not show Christ in me. Instead it showed me I was selfish, opinionated, insecure and lacking in grace and justice, as I seemed to want to compare myself with everyone I met, hoping that I could prove I was ‘better’ than them, whatever that meant.
Showing Christ to the world through my words and action, was definitely not something I was doing. If anything, I was showing other what a critical insecure person I was.
But this realisation made me realise that I must start showing compassion towards other; empathise with others’ situations and their hurts, and show them compassion and forgiveness instead of being self-centred and critical. After all Christ want all his representatives to show grace and mercy to all.
No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8 (New Living Translation)
While I may have realised a while ago that I wasn’t showing Christ in me to others, and asked God to help be change, I know I’m still a work in progress, although hopefully others can see I have changed. I still pray that God will continue to help me.
Are you being just, compassionate and humble toward others? If you are, others will see Christ in you. But if not, I urge you to pray and ask God to help you change so others will see Christ in you.
The Distinct Dot 