Table of Contents
It’s Easy to Judge the External
It’s easy to draw the wrong conclusions about others, especially when not viewing them through the lens of love. Criticism is readily available when the flesh gets involved, and self-righteousness is allowed to have its way. It’s not difficult to scrutinize people when you have no connection with them. Mankind looks on the outward appearance, but doesn’t consider the inner workings of individuals.
How many are mischaracterized, because of their outer appearance, or how and where they live? How many are demonized because people find them offensive? It is more comfortable to ignore or even outright reject certain sectors of humanity, because they are “an inconvenience.” The self-centered tend to embrace those who are advantageous to be around, while turning a blind eye to those who would cost them something, or simply because they find them troublesome.
As disciples of Jesus, it’s important to ask ourselves the hard questions. Do I judge others based on the external? How readily available am I when it comes to irregular people, or even those one might consider evil, based on appearances?
Love Looks Within
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, or the capacity for participation in another’s feelings or ideas. Another way to put it, it’s the ability to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from their perspective. How empathetic are you?
Have you ever wondered how people arrived to their station in life, and why they behave or live as they do? Love takes genuine interest in others, which includes what makes them tick. By understanding the why, it may be easier to be compassionate, instead of being judgmental. After all, Love wants others removed from judgment. If one walks in a state of self-righteousness, one will have difficulty in properly proclaiming the Gospel.
People are wired differently than others. They’ve been raised up with different sets of belief and values. Some have experienced things no one should experience, and it’s left a mark on them. Consequently, they don’t fit in so well. The human experience is different for everyone, so it might behoove us to look beyond the surface, and cut humanity some slack. This does not mean individuals have no responsibility; however, it may give us a reference point to help lift them up.
Love is Compassionate
Mark 6:34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and He began to teach them many things.
Jesus had compassion on the multitude, because they had no shepherd to care for them. If someone does not have The Shepherd, he or she is lost in his or her sin. Those without Jesus don’t know pure love. Sure, many are upstanding citizens, but they’re still lost. Others aren’t so upstanding, and they too are lost.
How many hate their lives? Would it be fair to say that a number of them have been rejected by society, even members of the Church? Surely, they would like to be understood. How is it we want to be understood when things go awry; yet, we lack empathy for others when they fail? Not that we should dwell on our past, but remembering where we came from might serve us well. Shepherds pull sheep out the pit when they fall into it. Our Shepherd saved us from the pit of hell and the lake of fire.
Psalm 145:8-9 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works.
Jude 1:21-22 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
