“Teacher," he responded, "I’ve kept all of these things since I was a boy."  Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him.  Mark 10:21, CEB

The other day, I took my car in for  repair at the dealership, and I soon discovered that I wasn't the only one needing work done at 8am on a Monday morning.  I poked my head into the customer waiting lounge, detected that most of the seating space was already occupied, and kept on walking to find a table by myself in the showroom.  Funny thing is that when the shuttle service began gathering customers to drive us home, I discovered that a friend of mine was actually there in the waiting room the whole time!  Whether in the grocery store, an elevator, or a service center waiting room, we've gotten used to not really paying attention to people, not really seeing people.  Maybe we pass it off as somehow being polite, passively giving people their space or respecting their privacy.  But maybe in so doing we actually end up missing something significant about others around us, and even end up missing out on meaningful friendship altogether.  The stark description of Peter and John in Acts 3:4 challenges this overlooking tendency:  "And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, 'Look at us.'”  I believe that the apostles' intentional gaze invites us to cultivate a similar habit of giving individual attention to others around us.  But what kinds of things can we look for in the precious people God leads us to fix our eyes on?

SOMETHING MORE

And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, “Look at us.” So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.  Acts 3:4-5, NKJV

On the way to prayer meeting at the temple (Acts 3:1), Peter and John rerouted their plans and directed their focus on one person.  It's possible they had seen this lame man before, but on this particular day, the disciples gave this man their undivided attention.  And in response, this lame man "gave them his attention" (v. 4).  The disciples' choice to fix their eyes on the lame man put them in position to see that he was willing "to receive something from them" (v. 5).  In the same way, when we pay attention to the people God puts in our path, we may discover that they're willing to give attention to us as well.  We'll become more understanding of their needs and the things they're presently going through, experiences that might make them receptive to our presence and involvement in their lives, circumstances that may prime them to seek something more.  But we'll never know unless we look first, unless we're willing to actually take notice of them individually and make ourselves available to invest personal attention.

SPIRITUAL MAKEUP

He listened to Paul as he was speaking. Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had faith to be healed and called out, “Stand up on your feet!” At that, the man jumped up and began to walk. Acts 14:9-10, NIV

Similar story, different characters.  Acts 14 describes a time when Paul also encountered a lame man who was crippled from birth.  Just like Peter and John, the apostle Paul looked at this man "intently" (v. 9, NKJV), and because of that he could see that this lame man had faith to be healed.  We're not told much more detail about what exactly he observed in this man, but we know enough to conclude that Paul's willingness to intentionally look at and not just look past paved the way for discerning spiritual openness and a willingness to exercise faith in Jesus.  Interestingly, this story stands in stark contrast with Paul's prior encounter with a sorcerer in Acts 13.  Paul "looked intently" upon that man as well, but instead of seeing faith to be healed, Paul saw in the sorcerer demonic deceit and resistance against the ways of God (13:9-10).  When we're willing to invest personal attention in others around us, God can open our eyes to see the spiritual battle that wages in their hearts.  When we notice others like this, He'll give us discernment of either their opposition to God or openness to Him.

LOVE & DISCIPLESHIP

Jesus looked at him carefully and loved him. He said, “You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. And come, follow Me.”  Mark 10:21, CEB

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record this dialogue between Jesus and the rich young ruler, but Mark includes a detail that is distinct from the other gospel accounts.  Jesus didn't just instruct the young man or provide information to answer his question.  Jesus "looked at him carefully and loved him."  Jesus didn't just address his mind.  He saw his heart, and the heart of Jesus responded in love.  Jesus' intentional gaze was directly tied to His compassionate love for the young man, a love that prompted Jesus to actually invite him into discipleship!  This is exactly what God wants for all of us --

to look intently at the friends and neighbors around us not just to answer their questions but to love them and disciple them.  

When we choose to direct personal attention toward others God brings into our lives, we'll grow in our understanding of their needs and we'll grow in our love for them in their need.  It's a look that stirs love in our hearts and actually creates room in our lives to invite them into a discipling relationship with us -- following us as we follow Jesus, sharing life with us in hopes of sharing eternal life together.

Who is God inviting you to fix your eyes upon?  Maybe it's someone you've passed by without notice.  Maybe it's someone who feels crippled not in physical ways but spiritual ways as well.  Maybe it's someone who feels like they lack information but in reality lack a discipling relationship.  Whoever it is, let's be willing to give individual attention and invest personal effort in order to discover openness, encourage faith, and extend love.