THEREFORE JUDGE NOTHING BEFORE THE TIME, UNTIL THE LORD COME, WHO BOTH WILL BRING TO LIGHT THE HIDDEN THINGS OF DARKNESS, AND WILL MAKE MANIFEST THE COUNSELS OF THE HEARTS: AND THEN SHALL EVERY MAN HAVE PRAISE OF GOD
(1 Corinthians 4:5).

How often have I judged something or someone at face value, just to find out later that things were not at all what they seemed.  I remember one incident where I deemed a certain person strong, confident, and victorious.  I found out later that this person was actually very weak and deeply unhappy.  Things were not what they seemed.

 I CARE VERY LITTLE IF I AM JUDGED BY YOU OR BY ANY HUMAN COURT; INDEED, I DO NOT EVEN JUDGE MYSELF
(1 Corinthians 4:3).

Child, you need to know that things are not what they seem.  In fact, what you perceive as the truth might be the exact opposite of what I, the Most High, consider as Truth. You might perceive yourself as guilty and bad, but why don’t you ask Me for My Opinion? When I make manifest the counsel of your heart, My Viewpoint might surprise you. You might consider yourself low, lost, and last, but why don’t you receive My Input? When I bring to light the hidden things of darkness, My Perception might blow your mind. You might have concluded, over time, that you have nobody who cares about you, but why don’t you allow Me to give you My Perspective? My Impression about your situation might amaze you and persuade you to judge nothing before the time.

BUT THE LORD SAID TO SAMUEL, ‘DO NOT CONSIDER HIS APPEARANCE OR HIS HEIGHT, FOR I HAVE REJECTED HIM. THE LORD DOES NOT LOOK AT THE THINGS MAN LOOKS AT.  MAN LOOKS AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS AT THE HEART’
(1 Samuel 16:7).

The father-of-lies will paint a negative, destructive picture of a certain person in your mind to set you up against that person. This picture will instill fear, hatred, and jealousy in you. This will cause harm to you and the person involved. But, if you bring this picture to the Lord Jesus, He will show you His Perspective, for the Lord does not look at the things we look at. We look at the outward appearance, but He looks at the heart.

So, the next time you want to judge something or someone, including yourself…DON’T!  Things are not what they seem. Only God knows the Truth. Ask him for His Opinion.

Whom have you judged at face value, recently? What has your conclusion been?

Are you willing to submit this conclusion to God and ask Him for His Perspective? If you do, it will change your attitude about the person you judged.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make known the counsels of the heart, because I desire to live by Your Truth.