The Filter of Jesus

^{by: Carole L. Haines and Christine Laporte}

^{16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:16-17 NIV)}

^{My husband and I LOVE coffee. One morning I ran the coffee through. It looked more transparent, lighter in color, but I just assumed it was a different blend of coffee beans. All it took was one taste to realize something was not right with this coffee. Groggy and tired, standing there in the dim light of the Winter’s morning glow, I ran the water through yesterday’s coffee grounds. It was weak, tasteless and bitter. That’s what happens when we use our Own filter instead of the Filter of Jesus.}

^{Countless times I have gotten it wrong about other people in my life.
God has had to say things me about how I view others:}

^{“Take this Scripture, read it to your husband and ask his forgiveness.” (MANY TIMES)}

^{“You are being a bitter root right now!” (Hebrews 12:15)}

^{Yet, He has also had to show me things to guide me in my view of myself:}

^{When I cried out to Him because of my struggle with anxiety saying: “God why couldn’t you have just made me normal?” I heard this from Him: “There is no NORMAL, just you and Me!” (Psalm 139)}

^{About trusting my own opinion, God has shown me that I must cease to trust myself and my own inner voice; instead, I should listen only for His voice regarding each person I encounter and in every thought about myself. Without telling you my age, I am closer to Abraham than Jeremiah in my walk of obedience, Yet God is not confined by time as I am.
O how I need the Filter of Jesus…we all do!}

^{16 So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. (2 Corinthians 5:16a NIV)}

^{Most of us are familiar with verse 17 in this Scripture, yet vs. 16 is just as crucial and true. We must not think about others from our own perspective.
In light of God’s instruction in 2 Corinthians 5:16, when we make decisions or judgements about people, let us not regard anyone from a worldly, cultural or secular point of view. Just like a much-needed potent cup of coffee when we’re feeling drained, we will benefit by using the appropriate filters…Truth and Grace.  This is the Lord’s way. (Christine Laporte)}