Happy Sabbath, friends!

This world can be full of so much judgment. Judgment towards our past mistakes, race, status, nationality, background, wealth…yet our Heavenly Father sees something different. God sees us as His beloved children. He doesn’t define us based on our past mistakes, race, status, nationality, background, or wealth — He defines us as His children who are chosen and wonderfully made.

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

The world may define us by external things, but our Heavenly Father defines us by who we are in relation to Him. Every single person has value and dignity, was intentionally created, and bears God’s image — regardless of past mistakes, race, status, nationality, background, or wealth.

1 Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
“But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.””

A Lesson For Peter

Peter was someone in Scripture who learned a powerful lesson about seeing people the way God sees them rather than judging them by outward appearances.

Acts 10:9-16 (NIV)
“About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven.”

Peter was given a vision from the Lord. Some may read this text literally and think it relates to food, but it is talking about much more. This vision is teaching Peter about people. The part that stands out to me most is in Verse 15 when God says, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”

God is teaching Peter that he should not reject people whom God is calling to Himself. Peter had been judging people based on human distinctions, but God was showing him that the Gospel was for everyone and that no one was beyond His grace.

Acts 10:27-35 (NIV)
“While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” Cornelius answered: “Three days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

God Shows No Favoritism

This is when the story shifts in the Word of God and Peter comes to the realization that our Heavenly Father shows no favoritism. Because God showed Peter this, He is also showing this to us as this is a lesson for us all to learn.

It can be easy in our human nature to judge others, but God is telling us to let go of casting judgment upon others and surrender ourselves to Him so we can begin seeing others through God’s eyes instead.

Acts 17:26-31 (NIV)
“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.””

In this passage, Paul reminds us that we are all God’s offspring and that every person ultimately comes from the same Creator. God does not call us to judge others, but to love others, as our Heavenly Father is the final and only Judge.

Seeing Others Through God’s Eyes

It can be easy for us to fall short and make assumptions, judge others, hold someone’s past against them, or even decide who is worthy of grace. Yet God calls us to let it all go and begin seeing others through His eyes.

Our Heavenly Father does not look at us the way our flesh often looks at others. He looks beyond our past mistakes and sees people He deeply loves. He is a merciful, loving, and forgiving God who desires for His children to choose to walk the narrow way with Him.

Following God is not exclusive — it is open to everyone.

It doesn’t matter your past, race, status, nationality, background, or wealth — all that matters is whether you are willing to surrender your life to Jesus and follow Him. The Word of God and the gift of salvation are meant for everyone.

Galatians 3:26-29 (NIV)
“So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Closing Prayer

I pray over each person reading this message today that they may be filled with the Holy Spirit. I pray that each person carrying any prejudice or judgment towards others may have their heart softened and filled with the love of Christ.

Lord, please help us all to start seeing others and the world through Your eyes. For I know that when we begin seeing others through Your eyes, we will be filled with greater grace, love, and compassion towards each person we encounter.

Thank You for being such a merciful, loving, and forgiving God. We are not deserving of You, yet You pour Your love upon us every single day. Thank You, Jesus.

James 2:1-13 (NIV)
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

Amen.