Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly. John 7:24
What a point to ponder! I want to put this on my fridge, my bathroom mirror, the dash of my car. These are Jesus’s words. I feel like I could just post this verse as my blog today and it might speak more to your heart than my explanation about how it’s impacting me. I mean, think about it. It’s so easy to misjudge. This passage is not about “judging” in the sense of passing judgment. The Greek work here is κρίνω – a verb meaning decide or determine.
What or who are you misjudging at the moment?
I’ve been struggling with a situation for a little while now. It’s nothing earth shattering but I am constantly prone to navigate through this ongoing circumstance battling with my assumptions and perception. I constantly feel like I’m scratching my head and left guessing. And so I guess.
Guess is defined as: to estimate or suppose (something) without sufficient information to be sure of being correct
I wonder how much of my life I spend guessing. I wonder how often I am living on perception and assumption? I personally don’t think we ask ourselves enough if what we believe we know about this or that is accurate, solid truth. A person? A relationship? A circumstance? Some small misperceptions are not going to ruin your life but big misperceptions can.
To give you an example, I think about the TV show, Long Lost Family. It’s a show that reunites adopted children with their birth parents and/or biological family. Many questions are 
PINIMAGEanswered and many misconceptions are set right.
Although I have only watched the show a handful of times, I have seen that sometimes the revelations are painful. But knowing the truth seems to bring solitude to those who spent their lives plagued with questions. Still, the damage of a life-long misperception leaves lasting scars and even when truth is revealed much healing must still take place.
I am learning a new discipline. When questions plague me and I’m tempted to rely on assumptions and perceptions I acknowledge this temptation and turn it into a prayer. I sometimes have to do this daily.
“Lord Jesus, help me to look beneath the surface so I can judge correctly.”
I don’t want to respond to people in anything but the truth. I want to live in the truth, to live in the Light.
Jesus said in John 8:12 I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.
Who can show us what’s beneath the surface? He can. We don’t have to walk in the darkness of our “best guess”.
We don’t have to walk in the darkness of our “best guess”.
But it’s not enough for me to just know the truth in a matter. Because when the truth is difficult, I then need God’s help to navigate through it and to give me the right heart.
So I also ask God, “Give me Your eyes, Your ears, and Your heart.” I want to respond to challenges with wisdom, truth and love. These all come from Him.
Do you know what’s amazing? I don’t have to guess anymore.
As I discipline myself to take my assumptions and perceptions to the Lord, He gives me wisdom and peace. It’s like pulling a briar from my heart. Even when I find the truth a bit painful, He gives grace and mercy as well. AND He shows me how to act on the truth I’ve been given.
So what or perhaps who are you misjudging at the moment?
Why not ask Jesus today to help you, “look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.” Ask Him to give you His eyes and ears and heart. Let Him work. Find peace in Him today. Then determine to live and act in the truth.
