Have you ever looked at a situation, a person, or a problem and immediately judged whatever you saw based on appearance? Made an assumption? Called it how you saw it? I know I have, I'm pretty sure we all have. Maybe someone did something horrible or stupid, or something horrible or stupid happened and you made a judgement about the situation based on what you knew. Have you ever just assumed someone was wrong or stupid because they had a different perspective or opinion on things than you? Have you ever thought to look beyond the surface? asked "I wonder why they did that?" Instead of saying "Well that was stupid, they must be a terrible person" or "That thing is just stupid". Have you ever tried to see things from a different perspective?
I think so often we get caught up in our first impressions, to the point that we forget that people are real, and deal with real problems, we never stop to think of what may be going on behind the scenes, to think that they may be fighting a battle we know nothing about. Some people make assumptions about things like Pokemon Go, and assume it's just another stupid trend that's polluting our youth (lol). When, in reality, when you look beyond the surface, when you look at the positives, You'll see it's bringing people together, it's getting kids outside, Places like churches are becoming gyms and handing out waters and showing the love of God to people! As silly as this example is, it's a perfect example of why we should look beyond the surface. If we don't, we may miss opportunities to love people where they are at, to be present, to see what God is doing through the little unexpected things and through the seemingly little and unexpected people.
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1 Corinthians 13:7 NKJV speaking about Love says it, "bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." The message translation says it "always looks for the best". Jesus hung out with sinners even though everybody else went with their first impression, Jesus hung out with them because He knew what was beyond the surface, a broken person, in need of His love and healing. He says in Matthew 9:12 NKJV "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick." He also tells us in Matthew 7 not to judge, lest we be judged and to consider the plank in our own eye before we point out the speck in another's.
The enemy wants us to judge others so he has something to accuse us with. Let's not give him place. Let's not make assumptions without looking beyond the surface, let's see look for the best in things and people. Let's try to see things from other peoples perspectives before we call them irrational. Let's see people and things from God's perspective! Let's skip out on the judgement and love people no matter where they're at or what they've done even if it's hurt you, because we may have no idea what's going in their hearts or what's going on behind the scenes. Everything is not what it seems.
