>>>BACK TO HOME PAGE<<<

We all have blind spots. However, while some refuse to acknowledge the fact that they do, others are simply unaware of their blind spots. According to the Cambridge dictionary, a blind spot can be “an area that you are not able to see” or “a subject that you find very difficult to understand at all, sometimes because you are not willing to try.” This concept is of particular interest to me because I personally struggle with identifying or acknowledging my blind spots. That is why one of my favorite scriptures and prayer is from Psalm 139: 23-24 which says, “search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” As a Christian, I know that I should always be humbled by the fact that I am a sinner in need of grace and that this should lead me to give grace to the people in my life. However, grace is one of the hardest things to give! Ironically, I have realized that in many cases, the people we give the least grace are those closest to us. It appears that when we deny them the opportunity to be imperfect humans (something we all are), we expect them to be God. Also, when dealing with the people we love, we simply forget that just as much as we need an opportunity to be heard or understood, so do they.

Today’s blog is inspired by a sermon from pastor Robert Madu titled, “Where Restoration Starts.” Employing a scripture from the gospel according to Mark 2: 23 – 3: 6, he stresses the significance of adaptability/pivoting/shifting to circumstances in our/other people’s lives, as well as with God’s plans. We shall call this a rigid/limited perspective of life. In the above scripture, we meet the Pharisees stalking and passing judgement on Jesus and the disciples for defying one of Moses’s commandments, i.e. respecting the sabbath day. All the disciples did was eat corn (which Jesus permitted them to do) because they were hungry, but this spiked a controversial discussion which led to Jesus putting them in their place and performing a miracle just to teach them a lesson. Jesus also reminded them of how David (when in need) found himself defying one of God’s laws when he ate consecrated bread that was only meant to be eaten by priests (see; 1 Samuel 21). Jesus further explains to them that God made the sabbath for man and not the other way around and that He (Jesus) was also God of this holy day.

It turns out that this was not the first time the Pharisees tried to pick a fight with Jesus for challenging their belief system. Pastor Madu pointed out various occasions such as; in Luke 13, John 5,and John 9. On all these occasions, someone was getting healed from a serious issue but all they cared about was the rules Jesus was breaking. Ideally speaking, we cannot really blame them because this was the role they played in the community but apparently, (just like all law keepers or leaders) the Pharisees had made the lives of the people so complicated with their own interpretation of the (religious) rules given to them by Moses. This, according to pastor Madu, hardened their hearts and made it hard for them to give grace to the people and to accept Jesus who often challenged their way of thinking by ushering in a new way of living that they were not accustomed to. Moreover, pastor Madu explains that the Pharisees portrayed themselves as perfect human beings just because they followed their rules thus failing to recognize their weaknesses (blind spots). Their refusal to accept Jesus’s way of life could be because they did not want to acknowledge that they too were sinners just like the rest of the people in need of Jesus. This Jesus that they kept undermining because of his natural background (son of Joseph, a carpenter). Therefore, Jesus often performed miracles and challenged their way of thinking because he wanted to restore their hearts by showing them how much less different they were from the rest of the people they thought they were better than. According to pastor Madu, it is hard for someone to change things about themselves that they cannot see. “You don’t know what it’s like to be on the other side of you because you cannot see you” he says. He also believes that before we can change for the better or be restored (by Jesus), we need to first recognize our brokenness/sinfulness. When we ask God to show us our weaknesses, we become aware of them and because we are aware that we are not perfect, we become humble and treat other people with grace.

Many of us have that Pharisee character. I know I do. Those times when you look out for the wrong things others do, when you pass judgement on people who are different from you and decide to put them in a box (or identify them by their issues), just because you do not understand them or their story. The times when you choose to preserve the law or your personal rules/beliefs at the cost of someone else’s essential needs. In my Pharisee-character, I find myself doing some things religiously and refusing to adapt. I have also chosen (on some occasions) to look out for what is wrong about certain people in my life and used this as a basis of judgment or condemnation instead of accepting that we were all created different but in the image of God and that God has taken each of us through different processes that affect who we are now. For instance, some people are who they are because they hard a very tough past life experience, giving them grace and loving them regardless of who they are allows them to heal and reach their true potential while pushing them down and putting them in a box will push them further down. In many cases I don’t even realize when I am being a Pharisee, some other times I do realize, but my flesh fails me. However, I have learnt to constantly remind myself to give grace to the people in my life (even those that I feel do not deserve it) by reminding myself that I need grace as well for my mistakes and weaknesses. I find that when I allow myself to adapt to certain situations that God takes me through, or when I allow my perspective to be challenged or when I choose to love and understand people who are different from me, I spiritually grow. I am learning to acknowledge my blind spots and I regularly ask the Holy Spirit to convict me of things I haven’t done right.

Lastly, just as Jesus faced people who were jealous of his calling because it wasn’t in line with their expectations, we too will face such seasons where we are misunderstood but we are encouraged (by pastor Madu) that one important thing to remember is that their criticism should not stop you from moving forward into your purpose. We need to learn how to deal with criticism. Just like the Pharisees followed Jesus everywhere with criticism but with no intention of getting to know him, some people (followers) will criticize you on social media or in person but only because they have not experienced you. Do not let them dictate your life or your calling. Nonetheless, pastor Madu prompts us to accept constructive criticism from other people that will help us change for the better. We all have some things that we are still struggling with in our lives, some more than others, therefore, he urges us to look to Jesus because we cannot fix this by ourselves. Moreover, the fact that God still loves us when we are still struggling with these things should avail us with his perspective to be able to see other people through his eyes with grace. Where does restoration start? Pastor Madu concludes that it starts in our hearts! He believes that God is calling us to stretch out hearts to believe and hope (again). Remember, some seasons are meant to change us, do not be rigid in your way of life and miss to experience what Jesus wants to do in your life or through you.

I pray that you can boldly ask the Holy Spirit to show you the parts of your heart that need mending, those blind spots that you may or may not be aware of, and that you may allow to give other people the same grace that Jesus has given each and everyone of us. And finally, I pray that your heart may align with that of Jesus. Amen!

With love and prayers,

Resty Kansiime

Here is Pastor Robert Madu’s sermon from last Sunday Where Restoration Starts | Pastor Robert Madu | Elevation Church – YouTube