My office is filled with books – I would not even venture a guess as to how many. One of the questions that I am frequently ask by visitors is: “Have you read all of these books?” To which I reply – “I have read some of most of them!” At any given time you can catch me reading about five books. I have books located all around the house, so that I can pick one up and get in a few pages. I am not a great reader of books. I enjoy reading, but the truth is – reading is something that I have to make myself do!
I was thinking about all of the books that God has blessed me with and it got me to thinking about the saying: “You can’t judge a book by it’s cover!” The fact is: You can’t judge a book by it’s cover, but many people do! We take one look at the outside and make a determination without giving any regard to what is on the inside! I am not sure why we do this – I think it is probably laziness on our part, or maybe just the fact that judging someone else as inferior causes us to feel a little more important than we really are! Whatever it is – we need to stop judging and start reading – we might just learn something!
By the way – I’m not really talking about books here, and if you thought I was, you mis-judged me! Read, change and grow this week and just enjoy what God can do to and through you!
Michael Joe Harvell 
Ok. Confession time. I am laying it all out here and I’m embarrassed about it. Nothing like a little accountability to make one humble!
I am guilty as charged! I didn’t think I was a “cover-judger” but,I was just sharing with Joanna about an incident I had in August when I joined the gym and about how wrong I had misjudged someone.
I was so excited about having a “personal trainer” for 3 visits. When my appt time came and I met my trainer, I immediately “judged” him by his “cover”. There he stood, the “anti- personal-trainer”. I would describe him but you would think I am making it up. I wanted to raise my hand and say, “Uh, Excuse me. Excuse me. Somebody! Uh, I thought I was going to have some “hunky looking dude” as my personal trainer. Someone has made a mistake here!” I then thought, “Lord, Ok. I get it. This is my mission ground that I’ve been praying that you would lead me to. Humph!” (Pouting, arms folded across my chest…you know)
But,as I climbed down off my “high-horse”, and shared my faith with him, I found him to be a very sweet Christian who still plays his guitar at the nursing home where his mother passed away about a year ago; he has a beautiful little girl (must look like her mom lol). And boy! does he have an extensive knowledge of physiology!
When I first met him I didn’t want to know him, but now I seek him out. (He still needs a haircut! But so does Michael) He has had an interesting life and he ends up ministering to me, as most everyone God puts in my path does.
Now I would like to say that “I’ll never judge another book by it’s cover again, but I know, if even for a fleeting moment, I probably will. (I’m being honest) But having this incredible “teachable moment” that the Lord gave me, I will be wiser for it.
I am learning great lessons everyday and through the Holy Spirit, He continues to teach me everyday! I am definetly NOT perfect. I have a long, long way to go. But as long as I allow Him to teach me I am closer today than I was yesterday! T. =)