Don’t Judge a Book by its Cover

There is a heart-warming video circulating online. It shows a little girl at a lemonade stand. She is looking downcast, most likely due to poor sales. Suddenly, a “gang” of bikers pulls up for a glass. The girl, beaming, happily serves each one.

Let’s be honest…Our initial, and incorrect, reaction upon seeing a rowdy group of bikers approaching a child might be one of concern. In contrast, ironically, we can’t believe that the well-dressed professional featured on the news doubles as a vicious child molester.

What a marked difference in perceived appearances. Jesus Christ taught us to not judge superficially:

John 7:24 KJV

Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement.

Jesus often surrounded himself with society’s misfits. One such group was the Lepers. Lepers were shunned due to their horrible disfigurement. Yet, Christ treated them with tender compassion, healing their infirmities. He also sat and broke bread with all sorts of “Sinners”. Most likely they spoke in crude language and didn’t dress to society’s standards. Jesus loved these repentant sinners discarded by friends and family.

In contrast, Jesus strongly condemned the Pharisees, or the “Elites” of his day. In fact, he labelled them “Vipers”. These men were held in high esteem by society. No doubt, they wore the best clothing, and their eloquence made quite an impression upon many admirers. Yet, their pleasing appearance hid a wicked heart. They wasted no time in condemning Jesus and plotted his death.

Back to our “Lemonade Stand Bikers”…It is easy to judge by their appearance and deem them “unworthy” …and that’s a horrible thing to do. One never knows what is held in someone’s heart. A loud, burly biker with a multitude of tattoos often cries over the mistreatment of children. For under that coarse exterior lies a heart of Gold.

There are such things as Earth Angels. Perhaps they arrive dressed in black leather, seeking a glass of lemonade from a discouraged child:

Hebrews 13:2 KJV

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

-Melanie DiLeo