Choose Potential Over Problems: See People’s Best

Jan 25, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Choosing to See Potential Instead of Focusing on Problems

Life often presents us with the flaws and failures of those around us, making it easy to focus on what is wrong. However, we are invited to look past the immediate issues and see the God-given potential within every person. When we prioritize people over problems, we align our hearts with the way Jesus interacted with the world. This choice determines the distance between where we are and where God wants us to be. By shifting our perspective, we begin to see others through the lens of grace rather than judgment. [18:34]

John 8:10-11 (ESV)
Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

Reflection: When you look at a difficult person in your life, do you tend to see their character flaws first, or the person God created them to be?

Day 2: Regarding Others According to the Spirit Not the Flesh

It is a common human tendency to judge others based on their outward actions while wanting to be judged ourselves by our internal intentions. We often get wrapped up in the personality traits that annoy us or the sins that frustrate us most. Yet, we are called to stop evaluating people strictly by their fleshly weaknesses or their worst moments. Instead, we can choose to believe the best and regard them according to their spiritual potential. This shift in focus allows us to see people as Jesus sees them, valuing their future over their past. [27:40]

2 Corinthians 5:16 (ESV)
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

Reflection: Is there someone you have recently judged based on a single action? How might your relationship change if you chose to see their God-given potential instead?

Day 3: Giving Credit Publicly and Addressing Issues Privately

Our culture often encourages us to air our grievances on social media or in front of others as soon as we feel wronged. A more excellent way involves protecting the dignity of others by dealing with conflicts in private. When we have a problem with a friend, family member, or colleague, we should go to them directly and with a heart for restoration. Conversely, we should look for every opportunity to celebrate and praise people in front of others. This practice builds a culture of honor and reflects the heart of a Father who loves His children. [29:18]

Luke 6:31 (ESV)
And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Reflection: Think of a recent frustration you had with someone. Instead of telling a third party, how could you gently approach that person privately to seek resolution?

Day 4: Refusing to Reduce People to Their Worst Moments

Every person has experienced moments of failure or poor judgment that they would not want to define their entire life. It is easy to characterize someone by their greatest mistake, but grace requires us to look further. We must resist the urge to make every disagreement a right-or-wrong issue or a test of someone's character. By refusing to hold someone’s past over their head, we create space for them to grow into who God called them to be. We all fall short of the glory of God, and we all need the same mercy we are asked to extend. [32:27]

Luke 6:37 (ESV)
Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Reflection: What is one "bad moment" in your own life that you are thankful others don't define you by, and how can that gratitude help you extend grace to someone else today?

Day 5: Choosing to Protect the Reputation of the Absent

It is often tempting to join in when a conversation turns toward gossip or criticism of someone who isn't there to defend themselves. However, we have the opportunity to lead the room by standing up for the character of those who are absent. Protecting people who aren't in the room prevents the gossip trap from taking root in our hearts and communities. We can choose to ask if an accusation is truly verified or simply remind others of the person's good character. This choice fosters an atmosphere of trust and safety for everyone involved. [34:50]

Luke 6:9-10 (ESV)
And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

Reflection: The next time you are in a group where someone is being criticized in their absence, what is one kind or protective word you can speak to shift the atmosphere?

Sermon Summary

As the new year begins, the focus turns to how thought patterns and deliberate choices shape spiritual growth and daily life. Thoughts lead to choices, choices to actions, actions to habits, and habits to outcomes; recognising the space between thought and action as the moment of choice reframes personal responsibility for change. A series of prior commitments—to better oneself, to invest in others, and to enjoy the journey—sets the context for a central decision for 2026: choose potential over problems. Choosing potential means refusing to be consumed by others’ flaws and instead seeing the image of God and future possibilities in every person.

Biblical examples bring the principle to life. When confronted with a woman caught in adultery, Jesus deflected the crowd’s condemnation, refused to reduce her identity to that single act, and invited her to a new path—mercy paired with a call to change. In the synagogue, healing the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath exposed a higher priority: people over rigid legalism. Both scenes contrast the Pharisees’ fixation on problem-spotting with Jesus’ habit of seeing and releasing human potential.

Practical application is given in three clear steps. First, give credit publicly and address issues privately—praise in public, correct in private, and bring a spirit of restoration rather than accusation when confronting hurt. Second, refuse to reduce anyone to their worst moment; lives are broader than headlines and mistakes do not define God’s ongoing work in a person. Third, protect those who are not present by resisting gossip, asking clarifying questions, and interrupting conversations that would harm reputations. Together these habits cultivate relationships that reflect grace, discernment, and long-term investment in people’s development.

The call is an invitation to a posture change: regard no one merely according to the flesh but judge by intentions and by the Spirit’s work. Making these choices shapes congregational culture and personal character, moving communities from problem-focused critique to potential-focused cultivation. A closing prayer commits these choices to God’s transforming power for the year ahead.

Key Takeaways

1. Choose potential over present problems Jesus' response to the woman and the man with a withered hand reframes judgment: prioritize what God can make of a person rather than what appears broken now. This approach refuses the easy satisfaction of condemnation and invests in the slow work of transformation. Choosing potential requires courage to see beyond current behavior and to participate in restoring dignity. [18:34]
2. See intentions rather than actions Evaluating people by their spirit and motives uncovers the difference between a pattern of sin and an isolated misstep; intentions reveal heart direction more than single actions. This perspective guards against hypocrisy—demanding grace for oneself while withholding it from others—and invites honest conversation about growth. It aligns communal judgment with redemption rather than mere punishment. [27:25]
3. Address conflict privately, praise publicly Taking grievances to the person involved preserves relationships and prevents public shaming, while publicly affirming others amplifies encouragement. The way correction is delivered—calmly, privately, and with care—determines whether it builds or breaks trust. Public praise creates a culture of honor; private correction becomes a tool for restoration. [28:12]
4. Protect the absent from gossip Intervening when others are spoken against prevents reputational harm and models covenantal loyalty; refusing to pass along rumors breaks cycles of slander. Asking for evidence and defending character when appropriate keeps communities safe for honesty and repentance. Protecting the absent preserves the dignity of those who cannot speak for themselves. [34:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[15:05] - Thought to Choice Cycle
[17:02] - Eight Choices Overview
[18:34] - Choosing Potential Over Problems
[19:16] - Mercy: Woman Caught in Adultery
[23:36] - People Over Rules: Withered Hand
[27:25] - Regard No One After The Flesh
[28:12] - Praise Publicly, Address Privately
[31:50] - Don't Reduce, Protect Absent
[36:07] - Commitment For 2026
[37:14] - Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 8:3-11 (ESV)
The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

2 Corinthians 5:16 (ESV)
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

Observation questions

According to the sermon, a specific cycle shapes the direction of our lives. What are the steps listed that lead from our initial thoughts all the way to outcomes? [15:47]
In the story of the woman caught in adultery, the scribes and Pharisees were technically following the law, but what was their actual motivation for bringing the woman to Jesus? [21:29]
The sermon contrasts how we judge ourselves versus how we judge others. When we look at our own lives, what do we tend to focus on, and how does that differ from what we focus on when looking at others? [26:18]
Paul instructs us in 2 Corinthians 5:16 to regard no one "according to the flesh." Based on the sermon, what specific choice are we making when we decide to see people through the Spirit rather than their flaws? [27:25]

Interpretation questions

Jesus told the woman, "Neither do I condemn you," but he also added, "Go and sin no more." How does this response balance grace with a call to a better future, rather than just ignoring her sin? [22:29]
The Pharisees used the woman’s sin and the man with the withered hand as tools to trap Jesus. How does focusing on being "right" or enforcing rules sometimes blind us to the actual people standing in front of us? [24:12]
One of the practical steps given is to "give credit publicly and address issues privately." Why is the setting (public vs. private) so critical when it comes to building trust and restoring relationships? [30:57]
The sermon mentions that we often reduce people to their "worst moment." How does fixing our eyes on a person's past mistake hinder us from seeing the potential God has for them? [31:50]

Application questions

Everything begins with a thought, and our thoughts lead to choices. As you look at the relationships in your life right now, is there a negative thought pattern you have about a specific person that needs to be interrupted before it becomes a habit? [15:05]
We often demand that others judge us by our good intentions ("I didn't mean to hurt you"), yet we judge them by their actions. Think of a recent conflict or annoyance. If you chose to look at that person's intentions rather than just their action, how would your attitude toward them change? [26:18]
Social media makes it very easy to air grievances publicly. Have you ever posted a complaint or vented about a person or business online? What would it look like for you to commit to only using public platforms for praise and handling all "issues" in private conversation? [28:50]
We are called to refuse to reduce someone to their worst moment. Is there someone in your life—a family member, a former friend, or a public figure—whom you have defined entirely by a past mistake? What is one step you can take this week to start seeing them as a person with potential rather than just a problem? [31:50]
Gossip often happens when we are passive in a conversation. When was the last time you were in a room where someone absent was being torn down? How can you prepare yourself to "protect the person not in the room" the next time that happens? [34:03]
Jesus prioritized people over rigid systems. Are there any "rules" or preferences you hold to so tightly that they are actually damaging your ability to love the people around you? [25:10]

Sermon Clips

18s

#StretchOutYourHand

“And he arose and stood, and Jesus said to them, I'll ask you one thing, is it lawful to do on the Sabbath to do good or do do evil, to save a life or to destroy? And when he had looked around at all at them all, he said to the man, stretch out your hand. And he did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.”

21s

#NoStonesJustMercy

“he who is, he who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first. And again, he stooped down and he wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it being convicted by their conscience went out one by one beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone and the woman standing in the midst.”

30s

#NotDefinedByMistakes

“We've all had bad moments that we don't want to characterize our lives. We've all made dumb decisions and we don't want people to hold that over our heads for eternity. We don't want listen, we've all done things. We've all made mistakes. We've all made bad decisions. We've all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The Bible says, we've all been there. You don't want that to happen to you. Don't do it to other people. Don't reduce someone to their worst moment.”

38s

#YoureBetterThanThat

“According to the law, according to Jesus is God made flesh, according to his own law, she should have been put to death. But he looks at her and he says, neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more. Now, I've heard it preached where it's like, neither do I condemn you. Now, don't do that anymore. No. No. No. The way that I like to say this, he said, I'm I'm not gonna condemn you either, but I want you to understand you're better than that. You're you're you're you're you're better than what you have been doing.”

23s

#IntentionsMatterToo

“Because oftentimes what I find is is I will judge others based off of their actions, but I want people to judge me off of my intentions. Oh, no. No. No. No. That's not what I really meant. I did that, but that's not what I meant by that. But if other people do something, we immediately judge the action.”

26s

#BeyondPoliticsPeopleFirst

“We see this in politics all the time. If you don't agree with my politics and you're a horrible person, if you're a Republican, you can't be saved. If you're a Democrat, you can't be saved. Listen. Stop doing that mess. Don't reduce someone to their worst moment. Don't make everything a right or wrong decision. Don't make everything a good or bad play. Sometimes we just disagree, and that's okay.”

27s

#ChoicesDetermineDestiny

“So when I have a thought, then I have a choice to make. If I had the thought I want to get healthy, then I make the choice, I'm gonna join the gym. That leads to an action. So as we started this series talking about choices, we we learned that our choices determine the distance between where we are and where God wants us to be.”

33s

#AddressPrivately

“Don't go there. It's the worst service ever. What if instead of taking it to social media, we went privately and talked to the server, we talked to the manager, and we saw if we could resolve the issue. What if instead of airing family problems or, issues with friendships on on on social media or talking about it with large groups of people. What if we went to that friend? What if we went to that, loved one?”

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