Devotional: Seeing Through God's Eyes 5 Day Devotional

Day 1: The Two Labels We Carry

Reading: Luke 7:36-50

Devotional: Every person carries two labels: "as is" and "made in His image." Like damaged merchandise marked for clearance, we all bear flaws and imperfections. Yet beneath our brokenness lies the divine imprint of our Creator. The woman who washed Jesus' feet understood both realities—she knew her sinful past but experienced transformative love that saw beyond her present condition. Today, examine which label you focus on when looking at yourself and others. Are you fixated on the "as is" condition, or can you see the "made in His image" potential? God's love doesn't wait for us to clean up before approaching Him. He invites us to come as we are, trusting He will complete the work He began in us.

Day 2: The Gift of Extravagant Forgiveness

Reading: Luke 7:41-43; Psalm 103:8-12

Devotional: Jesus taught that those forgiven much, love much. The parable of two debtors reveals a profound truth: our capacity to love flows from our awareness of how much we've been forgiven. The woman at Simon's house loved extravagantly because she understood the magnitude of her forgiveness. She poured out costly perfume, wept openly, and abandoned social propriety—all expressions of gratitude for grace received. Have you grown complacent in your faith, forgetting the depth of sin from which you were rescued? Today, revisit your salvation story. Remember the pit from which God lifted you. Let gratitude for His mercy overflow into compassionate love for others, especially those still trapped in their "as is" condition.

Day 3: When Religion Blinds Us to Love

Reading: Matthew 23:23-28; 1 John 4:7-12

Devotional: Simon the Pharisee represents the danger of religious pride that blinds us to both our own need and others' worth. He followed religious rules meticulously but missed the heart of God—love. He saw the woman's sin but couldn't see her potential for transformation. Worse, he didn't recognize his own spiritual poverty. Self-righteousness is the greatest barrier to authentic faith. It prevents us from receiving God's grace and extending it to others. Today, ask God to reveal areas where religious performance has replaced genuine love. Are there people you've written off as "too far gone"? Remember, the greatest sin isn't moral failure—it's a heart too proud to break, a life unwilling to change, and a soul that refuses to love.

Day 4: Preparing for the Harvest

Reading: John 4:35-38; Matthew 9:35-38

Devotional: The end-time harvest will bring people into God's kingdom who don't fit our comfortable expectations. They'll come with addictions, confusion, broken sexuality, and messy pasts. The question isn't whether they're ready for us, but whether we're ready for them. Jesus looked at the woman others despised and saw someone worth dying for. When broken people look into our eyes, will they see judgment or the compassionate gaze of Christ? Preparation for revival isn't about building bigger sanctuaries—it's about enlarging the sanctuary of our hearts. Today, repent of judgmental attitudes. Ask God to give you supernatural love for those who don't look, think, or act like you. The harvest requires workers who can embrace people "as is" while believing in their "made in His image" potential.  

Day 5: Becoming What We've Received

Reading: 1 John 4:19-21; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Devotional: Miss Thompson's transformation began when she saw Teddy Stallard through God's eyes. Instead of a hopeless, smelly boy, she recognized a wounded child who needed love. Her changed perspective changed his life. We are called to be the visible expression of Christ to a broken world. This means loving people the way Jesus loved us—unconditionally, sacrificially, and transformatively. You were once "as is," accepted by grace alone. Now you're being conformed to His image so others can see Jesus in you. Today, identify someone in your life who needs to experience God's love through you. Perhaps they're difficult, different, or damaged. Ask God for eyes to see their divine label beneath their current condition. Then love them toward their destiny.