Read John 5:17-20

Here, Jesus reveals an incredible insight that was at the center of his approach to ministry. Every single thing that Jesus did - every healing, every miracle, every life giving conversation – was an act of looking and seeing his Father at work in the world around him and then joining in that work.

Read John 4:27-38

When Jesus looked at this town in Samaria what did he see his Father doing? And when he interacted with the woman at the well, how do you think he saw his Father at work in her life?

Read John 6:5-7

How would you explain the difference between what Jesus sees and what his disciples see? Why was Jesus able to see his Father actively working in the world around him while his followers could not?

Go and do

This week’s scripture challenges us to see our campus through a different perspective: God’s eyes. Most of what we experience of the world comes to us through our senses. We interact with our environment through sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Jesus was aware of these things, but he also had a spiritual sense. He was looking for evidence of God at work in the world. With practice, we can embrace Jesus’ posture of expectancy as we explore for God at work around us in the everyday places of our lives.

In pairs (if possible), go to different places on campus and pay attention to what you see. Ask your Father what he wants you to notice. Ask him to help you “lift your eyes” to see how he is working in that place. What do you notice about the people in that place? Are they interacting with others, reading a book, listening to music, or looking at their phone? As you take notice, what do you hear God saying about them? Ask him.

Don’t just be a spectator. Pay attention to how God could be inviting you to join in. Are there people that God is inviting you to talk to or pray for? Is God highlighting needs that you and your community could play a part in meeting? Follow Jesus’ example in John 4 and don’t hesitate to interact with people who are different from you. Take a risk and see what God does!

Reflect on what you learned

• Where did you go this week to practice seeing as God sees?
• Was there anything you heard from the Holy Spirit as you watched people? Did the Lord give you any words from scripture?
• If you took a risk to talk to people, how did that go?