“…she looked on me with contempt.”
How do you look at those that surround you?
“If looks could kill” is an old saying that depicts the way we sometimes look at another person with hatred in our eyes. Everyone is guilty on this regard, for we have shown our disgust or anger through our eyes in many occasions.
“But people have hurt me!” you reply.
It’s true. Even Hagar displayed a look of disdain for her mistress Sarai.
How do you look at those who surround you?
We are surrounded by evil. We live in a post-Christian society. It is clear that we should expect hatred, criticism, and all kinds of unjust persecution. A Christian who expects love and appreciation from the world is hallucinating at best and compromising his or her daily walk with the Lord at worst.
“You are the God who sees.”
Was Hagar wrong in looking with evil contempt? Of course, nevertheless, there was not a hint of anger in God’s eyes. God despises our sins, but his gaze is full of grace toward his children. In God’s eyes we are winners because he looks at us through his Son, and everything he sees is filtered by love and compassion.
How do you look at those who surround you?
There are only two ways, either with worldly hatred or divine love. The worldly look is easy and freely available to all. Even Christians can learn to stare in this manner. The divine look, however, is only possible for Christians who are full of God.
A. G.
