Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. – John 7:24
A couple from church observed a young man they knew to be part of the praise and worship team enter a downtown tavern. “What a shame,” they lamented. “He seemed to be such an upstanding young man.”
How many times have you looked at a situation and come to a wrong conclusion? What these congregants had not realized was that the young man did the same thing every night as he gathered up his besotted father, took him home, and put him to bed. What appeared to be one thing was actually something else.
Jesus knew, despite instructing His followers not to judge (John 7:1), that you would judge others. He cautioned, in today’s passage, to be sure you understand the person and the situation before you render your judgment. Jesus upset many people when He healed a man on the Sabbath. They pointed out that their laws forbade Him from doing such work. However, Jesus reminded them that they were willing to perform a circumcision on the Sabbath in accordance with the eight-day law, a type of work. Correct judgment requires accurate information as well as a heart of grace and mercy.
Ask God to fill you with His wisdom, so that you might see people through His eyes. He will help you judge correctly.
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