Over time as I’ve deepened my reading of Scripture, one thing I’ve become increasingly aware of is that our Biblical ancestors are human. They really don’t fit the hero and villain stereotypes well, if at all. I think we all want to identify with biblical characters. Sometimes we pick our favorites and decide that we want to try to be like them, or even that we are like them already. It’s natural to see ourselves in their stories.
While there is no reason to try to be like people in the Bible, we are asked to become more like God. I pray God will open my eyes to truly see the people around me, prepare my hands to offer water in the desert, and give me listening ears and loving words to participate in God’s work of healing, dignity, and freedom. Seeing others is important. It’s where we begin. Who and what we see can inspire us to faithful action.
This message is an excerpt from “Seeing other people” by Cara Strickland in the March 2021 issue of Gather.
Daily Grace has been offering you things to ponder and things to pray about for more than 10 years. For free. Women of the ELCA provides many other free online resources, too—see welca.org/resources. Please support Women of the ELCA at welca.org/give.
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