Thursday, November 27, 2025

New Testament Reading Plan: Luke 4

Sometimes running away from a difficult situation feels like the best option. But, unfortunately, we don’t know what we don’t know … and a lack of context and experience is often huge!

For Zack, from the movie, The Peanut Butter Falcon, escaping from the nursing home had to happen. As a young man with Down’s Syndrome, living with a group of aging adults was unacceptable – he had dreams to pursue! With help, Zack finally escapes.

Meanwhile, Tyler is also looking for freedom - from his own guilt, shame, and bad choices. When he finds himself in a difficult situation and needs a quick getaway, he takes off in his boat, soon discovering a stowaway - Zack!

The two of them form an unlikely bond, working together to reach their goals in a beautiful portrayal of God’s plan for us. When circumstances are not going our way, we often run and hide from difficulties and challenges. Unfortunately, the direction we’d prefer often leads us farther from God. Thankfully, his love is so great, he arranges for our lives to intersect with the lifeline we need.

As followers of Christ, we are called to see people – including ourselves – through a new lens. Fully loved and fully accepted.

2 Corinthians 5:16
So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now!

When we look at others through God’s lens, we stop measuring them by their mistakes and struggles. We are meant to see others through God’s perspective: created on purpose, with a purpose, and capable of becoming more than their current situation.

It’s God’s desire that we look past others’ mistakes, addictions, and struggles to see them exactly as he looks at us - with hope, compassion, and genuine love. God doesn’t disown us based on our daily mistakes.

Maybe that matters even more for those of us who have been running. Whether we have been running from God, from healing, from community, or from our own sense of worth. Because God doesn’t choose to condemn us, he chooses to restore us. So, when we choose to see people through his eyes, we become part of that pursuit, and a reminder that no matter how far someone has been running, they always have a place to come home to.

Questions:
Have you been running from life’s difficulties and challenges?

Are you guilty of judging and criticizing those around you who may be suffering from their own obstacles and struggles?

Next Steps:
Read how to best face difficulties in life.

Check out this article from gotquestions.org to better understand 2 Corinthians 5:16.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving and accepting me as I am. Thank you for loving me enough to want to change me. Make me pliable in your hands as you reshape me into the image of Jesus. Empower me to see others from your perspective. I am unable to see others as you do without your power. In Christ’s precious name, amen.

Series Theme Verse:

Romans 1:20
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

This post was written by Karen Peck, a Perrysburg attendee and a regular contributor to the Daily LivingItOut.