We know that Jesus was so full of the love of God that He allowed Himself to be given for the needs of the very ones who opposed Him. When people walked by His cross and reviled Him, wagging their heads and gambling for His garments, the only thing that came out of His mouth was, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (see Luke 23:34). This is the perfected love of God! It is this perfected love that will empower us to do what we are called to do in this generation—to love those who hate us, for their souls’ sake.

On the other hand, the one who fears is not perfected in the love of God. He is as the blind man who was touched by Jesus yet only saw people as trees walking. “When he . . . put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw as he ought. And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking. After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly” (Mark 8:23-25).

This blind man had only partial vision and, similarly, when you and I do not have a heart to see people the way God sees them, we will be driven back by their hard looks and condescension. However, when the man was willing to be touched by the Lord a second time, he lifted his eyes and suddenly saw all men clearly.

If you are desperate to be a witness for Jesus Christ—if you are tired of being one thing in church but another outside; if there is a cry inside of you that says, “God, I have had enough of this powerlessness! I don’t care who laughs at me or who thinks I have lost my mind. I want Your power to be able to stand for Jesus Christ!”—then I have good news for you: God is willing to touch you again, just as He did that blind man.

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SI Moderator - Greg Gordon