How Do I See Others I'm Tempted to Overlook?

On my way home from work one night, I realized my gas tank was nearly empty. I sighed, knowing this meant stopping at a run-down gas station in a rough part of the city. As I reluctantly pulled up to a pump, everything was as I expected—the place was unkempt, the trash cans overflowed, and abandoned cars sat by the pumps.

I scanned my surroundings, wary. The only thing missing was the usual homeless person offering to pump gas for change. That was what I most wanted to avoid. Maybe I’d get through this without hassle.

But just as I stepped out of my car, a voice immediately behind me made my heart race. Somehow, I had overlooked him.

Thin, scruffy, and unmistakably homeless, the man asked if he could pump my gas. He said he was hungry and needed money. Sure, I thought sarcastically, you just want it to buy food. With a few curt words, I sent him on his way, avoiding eye contact. There was no doubt in my mind he was just looking for money to feed his habit.

As I pumped my gas, I watched him from the corner of my eye just to make sure he didn’t do anything crazy. I saw him walk up to one of the overflowing trash cans, rummage through it, and devour some food he found without hesitation.

At that moment, a pang of conviction hit me hard. I had chosen to label someone as insignificant for whom Jesus would have stopped and seen.

Jesus’ Compassionate Vision

In Matthew 9:36, we read: “When he [Jesus] saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

Jesus viewed people through eyes of compassion. He didn’t see them as nuisances or interruptions. He didn’t overlook the outcast, the poor, or the sinner. Others ignored them. Jesus saw them. He had compassion. He listened. He loved. And in doing so, He revealed the heart of God.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus consistently stopped for those unseen by others. He noticed:

• The sick and outcast (Matthew 8) – He touched a leper when others kept their distance.
• The poor widow (Mark 12) – He honored her quiet, sacrificial offering.
• The zealot and the tax collector (Matthew 10, Luke 19) – He invited men from opposing sides of society into His kingdom.
• The children (Matthew 19) – He welcomed them despite the disciples' objections.

Jesus’ love wasn’t selective. It wasn’t based on wealth, social status, politics, or appearance. He saw each person as an image-bearer of God, worthy of love and attention.

So, Who Are You Overlooking?

If Jesus were walking through your community today, who would He stop for? The single mom struggling to make ends meet? The homeless man on the corner? The coworker going through a painful divorce? The neighbor whose beliefs make you uncomfortable?

It’s easy to overlook people who make us uneasy or challenge our perspectives. But Jesus never did. He saw the unseen, loved the unlovable, and extended grace where others withheld it.

Think about the people in your life right now. Are there individuals you intentionally or unintentionally avoid? Maybe it’s a relative with whom you disagree. Perhaps it’s a coworker who always seems to be in crisis. It could even be the person standing on the street corner holding a cardboard sign.

Loving the unseen is not about picking one cause and making it your identity. It’s about following Jesus’ example, seeking out those who are hurting, and offering them a place at the table. It’s about recognizing that every person we meet carries a burden we may never fully understand.

Jesus didn’t hesitate to engage with those others ignored. He knew their pain, their pasts, and their struggles, yet He still reached out. As His followers, we are called to do the same. I challenge you to ask yourself a few of these questions.

• When was the last time you truly listened to someone whose life experience was different from yours?
• How can you be more intentional about seeing and serving those who often go unnoticed?
• Is there someone in your life who needs encouragement today? How can you extend kindness to them?

Ask God to give you His eyes today. Pray for the courage to step into uncomfortable places, to extend compassion where it’s needed, and to love as Jesus loved. Pray,

Lord, open my eyes to see those around me as You see them. Help me step beyond my comfort zone and reach out with compassion. Give me the wisdom to know how to love and the courage to act. Soften my heart where it has grown calloused, and help me love as You love. Amen.

You don’t need to travel far to make a difference. The opportunity to reflect Christ’s love is right in front of you—at work, in your neighborhood, and in your daily routines. The question is, will you take it?