Judging

When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. (Acts 28:4-6 NIV)

It's very interesting to see how people immediately judge things and people based on circumstances and situations. At first, the islanders thought Paul was a murderer just cause a snake was hanging from his hand. Then later on, when he showed he was okay, they again judged him by saying he was a god.

The principle is... People will sometimes never know who we really are and sometimes will judge us based on the circumstances we are in. However, truth will always prevail -- and hence, Paul showed the power of God in him by protecting him from the snake's poison. If and only if, God is who's really within us, he will still show regardless of current situations.

In the same way, we also must not judge others badly just because of bad circumstances around them. Rather, we must wait to see the proof whether God is indeed in them that they are not at any cost, affected by the circumstances.

// Lord, forgive me if I've judged people based on circumstances and became one like the islanders during Paul's time, misjudging who they really are. Help me as well to not be carried away by what people say when they misjudge me of my circumstances. Help me to hang on to You no matter what. Please strengthen mean Jesus' name, amen.