Have you ever sat in a cafe, pub, waiting room, or maybe a classroom, and observed how people interact? I must admit that when I am sitting in any of these places, I like to people watch.

Of course, I don’t focus on one individual or group of people. That might cause them to wonder why I’m looking at them so intensely, but watching how humans behave toward one another tells me a lot about our species.

Whether you set out to observe people or not, you can end up doing it anyway. People watching is probably best if you are on your own, to avoid being accused of ignoring those in your company.

I like to watch people when I’m in a cafe and relaxing with a coffee. Then I am living in the moment, not worrying about the past or the future. In the present moment, I feel the presence of God ministering to me, and even those surrounding me, whether they realise it or not.

I remember attending counseling courses in my younger days. Person observation is actively encouraged because as I said earlier, it teaches you so much about what makes humans tick. In some ways, you can feel like an Alien or David Attenborough when you observe your fellow beings from such a professional standpoint.

Let us not forget that Jesus would have observed those who later were to become his disciples. He would have seen their good and bad qualities, in essence, their humanity writ large.

He did not pick his disciples because he liked a particular quality in them or even disliked something in them. Jesus chose his disciples for their humanity, and from all walks of life, from fishermen, a doctor, a tax collector, etc.

Jesus as God incarnate knew how treacherous humans could be and he also knew their good qualities. As God, he would have observed humans from the beginning as he still does today. Yet as Christ, God has given humanity the chance to not only be worshippers of him but to be his friend, and to enter into an unfailing relationship that will never be found wanting. This is a relationship with the Creator of the universe through Jesus Christ, right now, and in the life to come.

It is easy to observe humanity as if it were a circus. In public places like cafes, there is so much going on, from noisy crowds to quiet individuals. Therefore, with that mindset, there then comes the judging mind based on what people say or do. Yet as God instructs us from a spiritual point of view we must not judge people. For all we know, people may be observing us and making assumptions about us. Thus the Lord tells us not to judge lest we be judged.

Finally then, by all means, observe people, but as Christians do it in love and understanding. Looking at humans from a loving and non-judgemental point of view is something God does all the time. We would do well to remember this as we observe people and allow people to observe us, and most importantly as God is watching us all.

Here are some scriptures talking about people and how God relates to them:

Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ”.

Romans 3: 2 3: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.

Isaiah 13:22: “I will make people finer than gold, and mankind more than the gold of Ophir”.

God bless you

Nick x.