God’s restoration plan is to first restore our Identity, rooted in our Creator, so we feel secure in our uniqueness and quit trying to be like everyone else. Part of God’s restoration work in you is to help you call out that Masterpiece in others. This means learning to create, learn and love in the image of God, the Imago Dei.

What you hold in your heart toward a person—the mental framework of how you picture them—is what people react to interpersonally. If muddy people are going to respond to the mercy and grace of God in Jesus, they must feel valued by his followers, you and me. If we want to become more like Jesus than the Pharisees, we must make ourselves available to God’s Spirit to see and value those in need more than we value our own agendas.

Do you see many people wanting to know about God because they see a glimpse in you of love, life and freedom? If not, maybe this disconnect is due to not having the heart Jesus had for other people. When we see ourselves, and others, through Jesus’ eyes, we are ready to participate with God in the greatest restoration project of all time—the reclamation of God’s Masterpiece, his image artistically incorporated in every human being we meet.