A while back the strangest thing happened. Dave and I were sitting in the living room watching a movie and we both started having problems with allergies, or at least that’s what I am claiming.
We both began to get the sniffles and my eyes started to water. Ok, let’s face it – it wasn’t allergies at all, it was the movie. It had me crying. I highly recommend watching the movie or reading the book, Same Kind of Different As Me.
This based on a true story movie tells of the relationship between a well-to-do woman and a down-and-out man. She lives in a big fancy house and he lives on the streets. Their story is one we can all learn from.
This movie portrays how we fall in to the trap of judging others just by their outward appearance. My, that has been going on for a very long time.
When the Lord sent Samuel out to find a king for Israel he went to David’s father and he looked for a tall, muscular, mature man. However, God had different criteria.
“When Jesse and his sons arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, ‘Surely this is the man who the Lord has chosen.’ 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man’…12 Jesse sent someone to get his youngest son. This son was a good-looking, healthy young man. He was very handsome. The Lord said to Samuel, ‘Get up and anoint him. He is the one.’” I Samuel 16:6-12 ERV
Jesse, David’s father, hadn’t even considered that his youngest son was qualified or good enough to meet with Samuel. David was left out with the sheep when the priest came to dinner. But God knew who He wanted, he was looking for someone with a heart for Him.
Jesus never looked at a man or woman’s appearance or their occupation when He was here on earth. He followed his Father’s example and associated with those who had opened their hearts to God. It didn’t matter that they were fishermen, tax collectors, prostitutes and others of low esteem.
James, the brother of Jesus, gave this instruction in the book of the Bible he wrote.
“My dear brothers and sisters, you are believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ. So don’t treat some people better than others. 2 Suppose someone comes into your meeting wearing very nice clothes and a gold ring. At the same time a poor person comes in wearing old, dirty clothes. 3 You show special attention to the person wearing nice clothes…5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters. God chose the poor people in the world to be rich in faith. He chose them to receive the kingdom God promised to those who love him…8 One law rules over all other laws. This royal law is found in the Scriptures: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’ If you obey this law, you are doing right. 9 But if you are treating one person as more important than another, you are sinning. You are guilty of breaking God’s law.” James 2:1-9 ERV
I will tell you that I was convicted by that movie. I felt great compassion for the people who were playing the roles. This is a true story but I had to honestly ask myself if I would have reacted with the same loving heart that they did. I pray I would have.
I find myself asking the Lord to show me areas in my life where I need to grow and change. Then I sit down to relax for an evening and watch a movie and God shows up and teaches me a life lesson.
The same loving God has blessed each person on this earth with air to breathe and the sun that shines. He sees a divine purpose in each of us.
We may be different but He loves us all the same!