Stereotyping*

I was out and about today and noticed a siding contractor working nearby. There were two men, and one looked like a biker type, a few teeth missing and a bandanna, etc. The other looked more business-like, clean-cut, better teeth, no bandanna, etc. I drove up to talk to them and realized based on appearance I mistakenly thought the wrong guy was the boss. After a second or two of talking, the more clean-cut individual backed off and I realized the biker looking dude was the boss. As I got home I thought about it and this scripture in James 2:1-4, "My brethren, have not the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, without respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and their come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?" I do not want to show partiality in my life. This is not the only time I have noticed this in my life. I do want to be like Christ, who spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well and changed her life. Jews would not speak to the Samaritans in that day and age. In fact, Jews would go out of their way to avoid contact with a Samaritan. But not Christ, he went to the people that needed him the most. The Bible really does have a lot of info about how to live our lives to be pleasing to the God that created us. It's interesting, I heard a preacher the other day saying how Peter could not belong to their church, how Paul the Apostle could not belong to their church. The man that was blind from birth that Jesus restored his sight; the Pharisees put him out of the synagogue. How are we today? Are we like the Pharisees with their legalistic outlook. Jesus must be a sinner because he healed on the Sabbath, the Pharisees said. The formerly blind man said, I do not know if he is a sinner or not, but I do know I was blind, but now I see. We need to be like Jesus, not legalistic but compassionate and help those in need. The worst type of blindness is spiritual blindness, help us to restore sight to those that are spiritually blind. God bless, LVZ.