Imagine the scene in the second chapter of the gospel of Mark. Jesus is apparently in his current home preaching to a packed house. No one could get in because even the doorway was blocked.
And as he is preaching, debris from the roof right over his head begins to drift down on him and around him. He doesn’t stop to chide those in the process of destroying his roof or complain about the mess they are making in his home and on his person. He just keeps on teaching until the commotion of the paralyzed man being lowered through the roof in front of him is too disruptive.
What is Jesus seeing? Is he seeing the mess? Is he seeing the gaping hole in his roof? No!
“Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralized man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.'”
The only thing Jesus saw is their faith. Which, according to 1 Peter 1:7 is more precious than gold.
This is what the Lord sees in us when we turn our focus to him. He doesn’t see our mess, or our faults and failures. He sees our faith. And that is all he is looking for!