What you see is NOT what you get!

John 7:24  Jesus said, “Do not judge by mere appearance…”

How many times daily do we violate this commandment?  Go ahead. Admit it. 

You see someone and by their grooming, style of dress, carriage and even smell put them into a category or compartment that works for you.  People have to fit into your image of their comfort zone for you to feel comfortable in your zone.

Also, what do we believers think when we see people from other denominations? Do we focus on what we have in common, love for Jesus, or what our differences are?  Do we confuse principles and preferences among believers?

Most believers that get to Heaven are in for two surprises…who’s there and who’s not!

Let’s talk about others.

You see someone who seems “down on his luck” and think he probably deserves what he is going through. If you take time to get to know their story you may become sympathetic or compassionate.

Once there was a man beaten and left for dead on the road.  Three people passed his way. Two were religious leaders who avoided being seen much less touching one of “those people”.  Only one was commended by Jesus.  The one who not only looked and spoke strangely but was from the wrong side of town or in this case, the Holy Land!

I used to ask my youth group how to find where God was working on the campus. 

Know where?

“Look for hurting or broken hearts"!  Then dare to get involved.
 Walk up to them and shock them by saying “Hi, my name is_____”. Then, try to become their friend. Most of the loners or campus outcasts long to be known…cared about…or just have a friend. They can be real responsive to Jesus.

I remember attending a youth Christmas party 30 years ago and we went around the room sharing what we really wanted for Christmas if there was no limit. Cars, houses, clothing, jewelry. When it came to the group nerd, he shut the rest of us up. His one wish for Christmas…”a friend.”

In most churches, we cannot handle raw unfiltered emotion or pain. How sad.  We miss the opportunity to be Jesus' ambassador to those in pain. God can bring us out of our comfort zone into their place of pain and loneliness and we both grow in the knowledge of God’s grace. We are blessed to be a blessing.

Open your eyes.  Better still, open your heart.   Let others in and let Jesus out!