One of the boldest prayers we can pray is, “Lord, help me to see people the way you see people.” Sit with that for a minute – God in all of his tender loving care handcrafted each and every person you come across every single day.

He doesn’t see their religion, or their political affiliation, or their appearance, or social status. He looks into the depths of a soul that he bent down and molded with his hands into his image and breathed his very breath into their lungs – a beloved and treasured being that he longs to have deep relationship with.
 
How easily do we disassociate from people who offend us, annoy us, dress differently than us, or they just happen to affiliate with people we don’t like? What is God’s posture? Love. Grace. Mercy. Relationship. He invites them in – he walks with them – he gives them a seat at the table.
 
Take for example the political polarization that seems to dominate culture now. Do we claim to be image bearers of Christ out of one side of our mouth and then vilify someone of the opposite political leaning out of the other side? Can we disagree with their political ideology and still treat them with love and respect as a human being created by God?
 
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
 – James 3:9-10
 
Verses we’ve heard or recited countless times can become too familiar. Imagine God speaking these details over every human being – it shows the intricacy God gives into his creation.
 
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the Earth." – Psalm 139:13-15
 
God has placed each of us uniquely in this time, in this exact moment in history, in each of our communities, for a purpose – and to show people who he is – and what better way to show people the heart of the Father than by truly seeing them the way he sees them and treating them and responding to them the way he would.

Written by Larissa Plunto, major donor officer for Buckner International.