Jesus never hurried past people. All through the Gospels, we see Him stop, notice, and give His full attention to those in front of Him—the Samaritan woman at the well, Zacchaeus in a tree, Matthew at his tax booth, and even a woman weeping at His feet.
Each encounter shows us what it means to truly be present. Mark 10:21 captures it perfectly in just a few words: “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” Before speaking, before teaching, before offering truth—Jesus looked and loved. That’s the posture of presence.
When we read that verse slowly, we can almost feel the pause—Jesus taking a moment to really see the man standing before Him. He wasn’t distracted by the crowd or pressed by His schedule. He wasn’t thinking about the next person in line. He was right there, heart open, eyes focused, giving someone the dignity of being seen and known. That’s what love looks like in action.
Too often, we rush through conversations, half-listening while thinking about what to say next. We want to fix, explain, or move on. But presence is different—it’s patient, curious, and compassionate. It listens without hurry and asks questions that show genuine care.
I was reading a little devotion written by Pete Scazzero and he asked this question: “When is the last time you heard someone say something like this: “Those Christians are fantastic listeners! I have never known a group of people who are so genuinely interested in my world, so good at asking questions, so attentive?” If we’re honest, that’s not always our reputation. But Jesus calls us to something better—to be people who, like Him, look at others and love them.
And being present doesn’t mean we always have the right words or solutions. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is our undivided attention—a listening ear, an open heart, and a willingness to simply be there. When we do that, the love of Christ begins to shine through us in quiet, powerful ways. The people around us begin to feel seen, valued, and known—not because we had all the answers, but because we reflected the heart of Jesus.
My prayer is that we can all become people who slow down enough to really see others; that we can put away distractions, listen without interrupting, and offer our full attention, so that we can communicate the love of Jesus to others.
Lord Jesus, teach me to see others the way You see them. Help me to look up from my busyness and love with the same attention and compassion You showed. May my presence be a reflection of Yours—steady, kind, and full of grace. -Amen
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