Don’t Judge The Outside

I have been attending a parenting class with my husband at our church.  It has been a great class with some real practical truths.  One of the things brought up in this past week’s video was how so many adults judge the outside appearance of teenagers.

This is honestly something that believers can be guilty of when it comes to any person.  We are sometimes quick to make judgments on the outer appearance of a person.  However we don’t realize how much we may be missing out on when we choose to view others this way.

Remember the story of King David?  Long before he was made king, Samuel went through the sons of Jesse so that he could anoint the next king.  When he saw David he didn’t think it was possible that he could be the one.  He was judging on the outside appearance.  But the Lord told Samuel that He doesn’t look at the things people look at, He looks at the heart.

God was more concerned about David’s heart condition than anything else.  It didn’t matter how tall he was, what clothes he was wearing or whether or not he was handsome.  He was to be king because of his heart.

We miss out on what’s inside of a person when we choose to only notice the outside.  I learned this lesson a few years ago when a new woman began attending our church.  She would go to the altar and I would think to myself what a shame that she could dress the way she was and yet act as if she was a Christian. 

I am embarrassed to admit that I had this mindset yet I know that I am not alone.  To make a long story short, that lady in the short skirts ended up becoming what is today a very good friend of mine.  You see, she was new in her faith and while God was concerned about what was going on inside her heart, I was concerned about her apparel.

Since that time I have made it a vow to never do that again.  I try very hard to teach my children the same.  I don’t want to have nor pass onto my children a Pharisee mindset.  Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they were so concerned about the outside of the cup.  Jesus told them to first clean the inside then the outside would be clean.

You see, it begins within.  That’s the best part of a person and it’s the part we are missing out on when we choose to judge the outside.