Do Not Pass Me By

So I have been doing a Bible study on the book of Ruth with some of the women who are nearest and dearest to my heart.  This particular study was written by Kelly Minter, who also happens to be a songwriter and singer.  So she wrote a number of songs based on the themes she discovered in the book of Ruth.  (The CD is called Loss, Love & Legacy... you should get it.)  This morning I spent some time listening (and singing along) to some of the songs on the CD and was particularly struck by this one:

What Do You See

If all you see is my hopelessness

you don't have to stay

And if all you see is my history

I'll keep waking up in yesterday

Where I can throw another dream together

Until someone like you remembers

What do you see when you look at me

Do you see a hopeless case or Jesus' face

What do you see when you look at me

Do you see who I am or who I'm meant to be

If all you see is my brokenness

you'll miss me when I'm whole

And if you turn away from my flesh and bone,

you'll never reach my soul

Hiding underneath the silver's dross

We all bear the image of God

Do not pass me by

Do not cover up your eyes

Do not pass me by

I could be your great delight

Do not pass me by

Dream the dream of you and I

This hit me on a number of levels.  First, it was like putting words to one of the deepest desires in my heart.  Oh how I long for people to be willing to take the time to stop and see me for who I'm meant to be.  So often I feel like as soon as an imperfection shows, people are out the door.  Ruth had to deal with being a foreigner in Israel... and not just any foreigner-- a hated Moabite.  Amazingly, Boaz was willing to overlook that fact and simply see her for who she was.  He was astonished by what he found: a woman of noble character who left her family and country to care for her mother-in-law and seek the one true God.  I often wonder if my history is all anyone will ever see of me...

Second, it was convicting.  How often have I chosen to "pass by" the imperfect?  To judge them as a hopeless case instead of seeing the opportunity to love as Jesus does?  How many times have I missed an opportunity to see God at work because I was too caught up in the imperfections?  How many times have I missed an opportunity to bless and encourage someone struggling to overcome their history and build a noble character?

Fortunately we serve a loving and gracious God who provides hope for both situations.  God says this in Ezekiel 16:
"And when I passed by you and saw you wallowing in your blood, I said to you in your blood, 'Live!'  I said to you in your blood, 'Live!'  I made you flourish like a plant of the field.  And you grew up and became tall and arrived at full adornment. ... When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into covenant with you, declares the Lord God, and you became mine." (ESV)

He doesn't pass us by.  He turns aside and causes us to live.  He turns aside and clothes us.  He turns aside and redeems us, making us His bride.  He turns aside and loves us despite our history.  He sees us exactly as we were meant to be, and He holds out hope of our being that again.

And He also offers forgiveness for the times we've passed others by.  He allows us to repent of that, and He'll give us opportunity to try again to see with His eyes and not our own.

Live in both those truths today.