The Sin Of Profiling - Jumping To The Wrong Conclusions

You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. - Matthew 23:24-26

Martie, my wife, had a follow-up doctor's appointment today. As we sat in the waiting room - a man and woman came it - I am guessing in their 40's or early 50's. Two things that were noticeable. First the man was in a wheel chair and he had a prosthetic leg that extended up to his hip. The second thing was they were both heavily tattooed. Faces, necks, arms, torso and legs. I wondered how difficult their lives had been and might be. Then the Holy Spirit showed up and reminded me that I was looking at the outside of the cup. That what I saw on the outside was what many people looked like on the inside - hidden from the eyes of those around them.

The Pharisees spent time looking good when all the while, their hearts were far from God. The Spirit said to me - before you jump to conclusions about anyone, look at their hearts. It wasn't long before a patient came out of the back room having seen the doctor. He was disabled. Moving with difficulty. The couple was very kind and respectful to him - showing compassion to someone they did not know. Then the Spirit said what I have shown you - write it down! So that is what I am doing.

For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. - Galatians 3:27-29

It is natural for us to look at the outside of others - race - nationality - language - social standing - vocation - tattoos - whatever makes them different and judge them. Judge them without even knowing them. Today they call the profiling. People who are different from us can make us uncomfortable. And so we distance ourselves from them without knowing them. Project negative attributes on them and then respond to them accordingly. To our shame. Looking at the heart of a person requires spiritual discernment. To have spiritual discernment requires that my heart is in tune with God's heart. I must be  submitted to the Spirit of God.

Be careful about jumping to the wrong conclusions. Instead .... Stop - Look and Listen for the Spirit to speak

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those .... who those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. - Hebrews 13:1-3

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone