"Stop judging according to outward appearances; rather judge according to righteous judgment."

John 7:24 CSB

Jesus is telling the religious/ cultural/ political leaders off because they are telling him off for healing a man.

On the Sabbath.

When he should have been napping, he healed someone instead.

It's so easy to judge on what we see on the outside. It takes work, time, questions, a heart that wants to connect, to see and hear and know someone. To see who they really are, and who they're wanting to become.

Jesus was challenging those around him to look at what he did. His actions, his life, who he was for, what his mission was.

He said to judge him on that. 

I'm sure that if Jesus had hurt someone, we would've seen his heart expressed in his actions, seeking forgiveness, making restitution, making things right, in humility bringing light and truth, love and grace.

Unlike me, Jesus never had to do that.

Today, this week, we're almost certainly going to meet someone, who we've never met before. What are the judgements that come to mind?

We get snippets of info about people from how they dress, what they say, and then we fill in the blanks. 

The challenge for me is not to fill in the blanks. To leave them blank and allow them to be filled by seeing the heart expressed in action. 

I wonder what I'll learn.

What I do know is that Jesus heart was for people, and he calls us to follow him...

#gospelofjohn

#lovelikeJesus