Welcome back to Beliefnet’s exclusive Bill Hybels devotional, “Living with Grander Vision.” This feed will appear in your profile every day for three full weeks. Did you miss any entries? Just stay subscribed, and the feed will begin again at the end of its cycle.
Better than anyone in history, Jesus saw possibility in the people he encountered. Looking past obvious flaws, he had an uncanny ability to envision who they could become, if the power of God were released in their lives.

How would they look in a transformed state? he wondered.
What impact would they have if their lives were invested in things of eternal value?

Some scholars say the apostle Peter was skinny, pale, and eyebrow-less, of all things, in addition to being prone to frequent weeping. To be sure, he was a fisherman by trade, which meant he probably didn’t smell that great either. He didn’t always say the right thing at the right time. And on one occasion, he even took off the ear of a guy he didn’t particularly like.

Still, to Jesus at least, Peter was rock-solid. “On him,” Christ said, “I’ll build my church.” (Matthew 16:18)
No mention of Peter’s past sin.
No mention of his lack of experience.
Not a word about the eyebrow thing.
Just, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you.” (Matthew 4:19[MSG])

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How significant is it that when God looks your way, all he spots is potential? Are you more likely to see the people you encounter according to who they are today, or according to who they might become tomorrow? What types of questions would you ask the ones whose paths you cross to gain a little insight into their God-given potential? Would you probe their passions, perhaps, or their proudest accomplishments in life thus far? Or maybe the dream they would chase if they knew it could actually come true?