Before smartphones and Facebook, humans could focus on something for at least 15 seconds before our minds began to wander. 

Today, researchers say that we have the attention span of a goldfish—8 seconds. Scientists are now experimenting with the fruit fly’s brain—very similar to the human brain—and those little buggers have an attention span of 3 seconds. 

Hey. You. Stay with me here.

As a society, our attention span is compromised by so many shiny things. So we just see less. We notice less. We pay less attention. 

Advertisers know this, so they create YouTube ads that grab our attention before we can hit the “Skip” button.

Jesus knows this too. Attention in our lives is lacking. Jesus gives us his attention. He knows us. He likes and follows us. He friends us. He sees us. He loves us. All the time.

Even though we don’t deserve to have Jesus turn toward us in love, he does. Like to one man who questioned him: “Jesus looked at him and loved him” (Mark 10:21). 

Jesus sees you. He sees your hurt or loneliness. He sees your sin and shame and even rebellion. He doesn’t just pretend it didn’t happen or hope you’ll be okay. He notices. He looks at you and loves you.

The Bible calls that mercy. Put down your phone today—for at least 8 seconds—and take the time to see someone who needs your mercy too.