from now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. [2 corinthians 5:16]
“paul emphasizes spiritual judgment and spiritual insight into people’s lives and situations. our experience of Christ’s love moves us to stop viewing others according to worldly standards and to learn how to view them from the standpoint of God’s great act of salvation in Jesus Christ.”
we do not look to the flesh for many reasons; because we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen (2 cor 4:18), because our earthly tent will be destroyed, but we will have a new body, eternal in the heavens (2 cor 5:1), because we walk by faith, not by sight (2 cor 5:7), because we do not glory in appearance, but we glory in heart (2 cor 5:12). For all these reason we look to the heart and character within. now we see the lost as Christ saw them, a lost soul in need of finding. the love of Christ that controls us leads us to ache for the lost and their need for Jesus. worldly standards no longer hold any value, but we see with the sight of God that saw little david and said “do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because i have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 sam 16:7).
today draw near to God and ask for his eyes to see. to see the people you interact with today not according to the flesh, but with understanding of the powerful truth of the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. as you draw into the presence of God and ask for his sight, may he open your eyes to a new heart, a new life right in front of your eyes.
~ holly russell