look beneath the surface

Jesus gives us some excellent advice today in our reading from the One Year Bible. We read from John 7:1-30. He's talking about healing on the Sabbath, which appears to break the law of Moses. But, as He points out elsewhere, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Jesus tells us in today's reading that we should "Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly." And that's wisdom we should take to heart. Looking beneath the surface means slowing down, taking time to listen, to watch, to discern. It means waiting to see what someone will actually do or say, rather than assuming what they'll do based on our preconceived notions about them.

Jesus did this throughout His life on earth. He constantly looked past what everyone else thought and understood, and saw what was underneath. What was true. What was worth reaching out to, and redeeming.

He does that for every one of us. He looks past our sins (though He knows better than anyone what they are) and sees who we can be with His help. He believes in us. He helps us to become the people, not that we fall into in our sins, but that He created us to be. He helps us to truly be ourselves.

That's what He asks us to do for each other. To look at one another with His eyes, and see beneath the surface, and make good judgments full of grace and mercy and forgiveness - so that we can help one another become who He made us to be.

God, thank You for looking beneath the surface. Please help us to do the same.