“God sees things we don’t.”

A thought by Brant Hansen (2015-04-14) from his book, Unoffendable: How Just One Change Can Make All of Life Better (p. 27). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Here is what Brant says, “God sees things we don’t. He must, because He hasn’t vaporized us yet. He must look at a seriously messed-up world and still see what can be done with it. He sees what it can and will be.”

Brant earlier said, “Some people are artists. They just see things better. When they look at something, they see potential outcomes. They see what could be. Like my friend Chris. Chris was elated at his find one time, and he enthusiastically showed it to me. It was a pile of flattened cardboard boxes he’d gotten from a Dumpster. Seriously, he was overjoyed. ‘This is the good stuff, my friend!’ he told me. ‘Look at this!’ The good stuff? I guess it was. Weeks later, he showed me a crèche he’d made, life-size: Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. It was painted with small flags from around the world, to demonstrate the relevance of Christ to the modern world in the midst of nations and wars. When he told me it was made out of cardboard, I couldn’t believe it. It looked as though it were chiseled from white stone. He’d made it from the ‘good stuff’— you know, from the Dumpster. Chris is an artist. He just sees things.”

Brant goes on, “He apparently sees us the same way. He’s not just an artist, of course, like Chris. He’s also a Father. Good dads are like that. You may be a drop-out, underachiever, whatever, and a good dad will still love you, but he’ll push you to change, because he sees a different you ahead. He sees a finished product, an adult who uses his or her talents and is a blessing to others. He sees something wonderful.”

That is the way God is and how he wants us to be. Brant says, “Yes, God sees things we don’t. We can risk loving people— incredibly difficult, insulting people— because He loves us. That person you find so offensive? Somehow, God sees something there. Something you don’t. Ask Him what it is. Maybe He’ll show you. I bet He wants to?”

So do you want to see?

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