By Jeff Miller
A little picture appeared in my office. It was a picture of Jesus peeking around a corner. Someone clandestinely put it up on my bulletin board. It includes the words, “I saw that.” The culprit has yet to be identified; the consequences will be severe 😊. Of course, the picture and phrase can be construed in several ways. Most people who tend to think first and foremost of God as judge and jury would think of it as a warning that Jesus always knows the bad and selfish things we do. While certainly He does know that (and lovingly works to correct our wayward behavior), yet I think Jesus predominantly has a different posture.
Like a parent watching for their child to take her first steps or grandparents leaning in along the sports field to see their grandchild’s first goal or hit or touchdown, I think Jesus is alert and smiling as He watches for our next (sometimes wobbly) step of obedience and care and service. He sees who we really are and loves us just the same. He sees what we can become and urges us on. He sees what we (imperfectly) do and cheers us forward. Jesus inspires and brings out the best in people (and of course He empowers and enables us to grow and accomplish the things He asks of us). I want to be like that.
I would like to invite you to join me in taking The ICNU Challenge.
ICNU as in “I See In You.” Let’s watch people in our world, in our church, in our family, in our neighborhood, in our activities and ministries. Let’s anticipate and jump on the good things we see. Look for opportunities to put a hand on a shoulder and lift someone’s spirit by saying ICNU. Tell them things that the Spirit enables you to see in them that maybe they don’t even yet see themselves. For at least one moment be the president of their fan club.
I still have a card that a teen girl sent to me when I was a youth pastor. I had sent her an ICNU card. I told her that I loved what I saw Jesus doing in and through her life; that I appreciated her heart and who she was becoming. She responded with a note to me essentially saying, “Thanks so much for sharing that. You made my week. I wondered if anyone noticed.” Those words still haunt me a bit after all these years: “I wondered if anyone noticed.” Let’s not be guilty of not noticing or not telling. ICNU.
Jeff