Today it is essential for us to see People Through the Eyes of Jesus. Jesus declared; “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)
One of the most revealing questions a believer can ask themselves is this: “What breaks my heart?”
When we study the ministry of Jesus, we discover that people mattered deeply to Him. He was moved with compassion when He saw the crowds because they were “weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). He saw beyond appearances. He saw beyond sin. He saw beyond failures. He saw eternal souls created in the image of God.
The reason Jesus came was not simply to perform miracles, teach sermons, or establish a movement. He came to rescue people from eternal separation from God.
- Every miracle pointed to salvation.
- Every sermon pointed to salvation.
- Every step toward Calvary pointed to salvation.
The cross was Heaven’s declaration that every soul matters.
Sometimes after being saved for many years, it is easy to lose the burden we once had for those who do not know Christ. We become occupied with careers, schedules, finances, family responsibilities, and even church activities. Yet we can become busy doing ministry while forgetting the reason ministry exists.
The early Church never lost sight of the mission. They understood that eternity hung in the balance. Acts 5:42 says: “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”
Notice they did not merely preach on Sundays. The Gospel became part of their lifestyle.
A Spirit-filled believer understands that every conversation may become a divine appointment.
- The cashier at the grocery store.
- The neighbor across the street.
- The coworker in the office.
- The family member who has drifted from God.
These are not interruptions… They are opportunities.
Revival is not merely when churches become full. Revival is when believers become burdened for the lost.
In Luke 15, Jesus tells of the Prodigal Son. In the story of a father whose son wandered far from home. Every day that father likely looked down the road hoping to see his son return. This reflects the father’s heart, which is the heart of God. While many people focus on the rebellion of the son, the true centerpiece of the story is the Heart of the father.
Jesus tells of a young man who demanded his inheritance, left home, and squandered everything in reckless living. He pursued pleasure, independence, and the illusion that life would be better away from his father. Eventually, his choices left him broken, bankrupt, and feeding pigs, a humiliating condition for a Jewish young man.
Yet even while the son was in a distant country, the father’s heart never changed.
- There is no indication that the father stopped loving him.
- There is no indication that the father forgot him.
- There is no indication that the father replaced him.
The son may have walked away from the father, but the father never walked away from the son.
As Jesus unfolds the story, we find one of the most moving verses in Scripture:
“But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” (Luke 15:20)
Notice something remarkable. The father saw him while he was still a great way off.
How did he see him?
Many Bible teachers have suggested that this implies the father had been watching. Day after day, he likely looked toward the horizon hoping for the moment his son would return. The father had not given up hope.
This reflects the heart of our Heavenly Father.
God is not indifferent toward those who wander from Him.
- He is not standing in heaven with folded arms waiting to condemn them.
- He is watching.
- He is longing.
- He is drawing.
- He is waiting.
Every parent who has prayed for a prodigal child understands a small glimpse of this pain. Every pastor who has watched someone drift from the Lord understands a measure of this burden. Yet God’s love is infinitely greater than ours.
The father did not run to punish his son… He ran to restore him.
In that culture, dignified older men did not run. Yet this father threw aside his dignity and ran toward his broken son. It was a picture of extravagant love.
The son came home rehearsing a speech: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight and am no longer worthy to be called your son.” (Luke 15:21)
But before he could finish, the father interrupted his shame with grace. He ordered that his servants: “Bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.” (Luke 15:22)
- The robe represented honor.
- The ring represented sonship and authority.
- The sandals represented freedom.
The father was saying, “You may have left as a rebel, but you are returning as my son.”
What a picture of our salvation.
When sinners come to Christ, God does not merely tolerate them. He receives them. He restores them. He redeems them.
This is why Jesus told the story. The religious leaders viewed sinners as people to avoid. Jesus wanted them to understand that sinners are people the Father is pursuing.
Earlier in the chapter, Jesus tells of a lost sheep and a lost coin. Then He tells of a lost son. Each story reveals the same truth: God actively seeks what is lost.
- The shepherd searches for the sheep.
- The woman searches for the coin.
- The father waits and watches for the son.
All three reveal the relentless love of God.
A Word for our Church:
The Church must carry the same heart as the Father. Too often believers become frustrated with prodigals, backsliders, and unbelievers. We can become critical instead of compassionate.
But if we are going to fulfill the mission of Christ, we must learn to see people through the Father’s eyes.
- When God looks at the addict, He sees someone worth saving.
- When God looks at the atheist, He sees someone worth pursuing.
- When God looks at the prodigal, He sees a son or daughter who can still come home.
The Church should never stop praying for the lost because the Father never stops loving them.
While many people see rebellious sinners, God sees sons and daughters who need to come home. You see, every soul matters to God.
Today’s Challenge:
Ask God to place three people on your heart who need Christ. Write their names down and pray for them every day this week. Look for opportunities to demonstrate God’s love through kindness, encouragement, and a personal testimony.
Today’s Prayer: Father, give me Your heart for the lost. Remove every trace of indifference from my life. Help me to see people through Your eyes and to love them the way You love them. Give me boldness to share the Gospel and wisdom to recognize divine opportunities. Let my life become a reflection of Your compassion. In Jesus’ name, Amen.