The Inside of the Matter

Assumption is the origin of many a strife and misconception.

We walk through our days and often make assumptions about people that may not reflect reality.

We are all guilty of this, and none of us is exempt from it. Even if you don’t do it in your current walk, you’ve done it at some point.

“But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart’” (1 Samuel 16:7 [ESV]).

People often look to the surface of things, never peering into the depths of a person’s heart.

There’s nothing wrong with being beautiful or handsome. That’s not what I’m saying. You should have self-confidence, of course, but I certainly know I’m not Chris Hemsworth.

When it comes to attraction, I’m attracted to someone’s heart far more than their beauty. Walking with the Lord has taught me to live this way.

We should love people and not make grand assumptions about them. You don’t know what someone’s day is like.

That person who’s been overweight for ten years might have a medical issue you don’t know about.

The person who seems aloof and out of focus at a place of work might have spent the entire night working on a side-income.

Even grand delays from George R.R. Martin don’t mean he isn’t working on the book. That guy must be busy out the wazoo with his station on this Earth. Give him some slack and be patient.

Yahweh does not look at the outward appearance. He looks at the things within. Humility, a lack of negative pride, not seeking only after money, and if you have the heart of Christ.

We don’t know what is going on behind the scenes in somebody’s life, so treat everyone with love and let God do the judging.

Also, don’t make assumptions because something seems a certain way.

Think of Instagram filters. They’re doctoring up reality. But that’s not always what someone looks like.

For my headshots, I do some white balance, a standard soft blur, and a bit of lighting curves. But I will not edit out my wrinkles. Besides, things like that give someone character. We aren’t meant to be cardboard-cutout people.

The God who made the galaxies is looking for followers who follow Him in spirit and in truth.

For people not to assume things, and for us to treat others as the images of God they are. That guy who cut you off on the highway might rush toward a loved one who had just had a serious accident—it’s not always someone trying to be mean and hateful in some way. Let your words be seasoned with salt and light.

Learn to look at others with the heart of God in mind. He doesn’t withhold the oxygen on Earth because they’re sinning (or you’ve assumed it).

You should know if you’ve walked the walk enough that things aren’t always surface-level apparent.

Something to keep in mind as you go about your daily life.

Blessings and shalom to you.