• Pastor Gerrit Mes of the AFM Pentecostal Fellowship writes:
Some time ago I saw a woman, her arms and legs plastered with tattoos. Besides the tattoos she looked “normal”. Although she caught my attention, what really fascinated me was the reaction from the people around her. Looks of disgust on their faces. I could imagine people thinking, “bad person”. A few days later I noticed a man in his 30s. Good looking, well groomed, and dressed to impress.
As I pondered on the two situations, I thought about a Sunday morning church service. If that woman entered the church, what reception would she receive, and if that young man attended the same service, how would he be accepted?
The truth is, religious or not, we all judge others. Often our judgement is based on external, superficial things.
Is it possible that this woman who does not fit into your world could be the better person? Could it be that the man is not so nice?
It is so true that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Matthew 7: 1–3, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
I know what we look at when we judge a stranger. But I wonder what God sees when he looks at us. Maybe you know someone who is different but you know there is more than what meets the eye. True beauty is more than the skin deep appearance. Just a thought.
You can contact Pastor Mes on 087 802 5754.
