The Eye Test

     In the words of the prophet Britney Spears, “Oops, I did it again.” I went to the gym this morning and was putting in my time on the elliptical. I was listening to RC Sproul on my phone and I had the television on the wall tuned into ESPN to catch up what was going on in the sports world when the couple walked in. I knew they were going to change the channel and I was ready to pounce. He picked up the remote, changed the channel, and I did indeed pounce. How dare they!
     Another couple walked into the gym whom I did not recognize and I immediately made assessments about them based on their appearance. It was then I caught myself doing it again, oops! Not truly knowing any of these people I made judgements about them based on my standards.
     If we are honest with ourselves we all do it. We see someone and we make a quick assessment and judgment about that person. The person who cuts you off in traffic. The person walking down the street in dirty clothes with a cigarette in mouth and a baby on their hip. The person driving the nice car is probably stuck up and think they own the world. A beautiful woman obviously bought her appearance. The person protesting whatever the latest cause may be needs to come around to my way of thinking. Trump is an idiot. Clinton is a crook. On and on judgements are made based on our own ideologies. The eye test reveals the true condition of our heart.
     All this caused me to ponder my Lord. The disciples saw a Samaritan women at the well. “We do not associate with Samaritan women.” Jesus offers her grace and forgiveness. Jesus is dining with some Pharisees when a woman washes His feet. The Pharisees look in disgust, “Doesn’t He know what kind of woman she is?” We see this theme played out over and over in the gospels. The people assess someone and dismiss. Jesus assess and reaches out.
     I must admit it is a difficult thing to eradicate from our ingrained attitudes, this assess and dismiss attitude. But it must be eradicated if a follower of Christ is going be conformed into the image of our Savior.
     In my reading this morning I came across these words from the Apostle Peter, “To sum up. All of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing” (1Peter 3:8-9).
     Pray this morning for the attitude of assess and dismiss to be squashed in your heart and mind and replaced by an attitude of our Savior who chose to see value and love. Make every effort to eradicate the mind of self-righteousness and replace it with selfless servanthood. When someone crosses your path get beyond the eye test to the person who has been created in the image of our Maker.
​

Pastor Rob