It's what's within that counts . . .

Recently, I was gifted with a packet of seeds and I carefully planted them along the back of my garden. I knew that the flowers would grow tall, and I thought they would make a lovely backdrop to the veggies growing plentifully within the plot.

I didn't realize just how beautiful they would be! And how many different colors! There are pinks, corals, fuschias, pastel roses, and gleaming whites!

All so very different!
On the outside.
I'd like to show you a picture that shows what each bloom looks like -- on the inside:

Gorgeous, right?
Like tiny stars sparkling inside the row of petals.
God used this to reinforce my need to be more accepting of people, especially other believers! Often we come across people in our pathway who don't look the way that we expect. Or we come across believers who don't carry themselves in a manner that we approve of.
But each of them is a real person.
With a real soul.
And with the Spirit living inside them and working in their lives.

Like the zinnias in my garden, they all look different. But they have the same "insides."
Remember back in what we call the Old Testament?  The young boy, David, was judged wrongly by others, even by those in his own house. Even Samuel, who had come to Jesse's house to anoint a new king looked at the outward appearance first! God plainly told him:

"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lordlooks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7b, NIV)

It makes no difference if someone dresses differently.
If they worship differently.
If they use different words to describe things.
If they use a different translation of God's Word.
Do we see the "stars" inside? In other words, can we see the fruits of the Spirit? That's the real way to know . . .
God has a perspective when He looks at people that we can't have...... God can see the heart of a man or woman. Perhaps instead of making our minds up too quickly about individuals (believers and unbelievers alike) we should just decide to love them.  If we accept them as God made them, and accept them where they are, then we can let God be the one that deals with their hearts.
Unbelievers and even believers from different "denominations" can look upon Christians and get sidetracked by their thumping on a Bible and saying, "only this translation!" They can be turned off by a Christian who says, "you shouldn't worship that way!" Or, "you should know better than to dress that way!"
Perhaps we should follow the example of Christ? You think?
He met people where they were.
He met them and loved them; He took them from there and helped them understand more, and then they began to have changes in their lives.  (He didn't say, first you must do this and this and this, and then I will sit down to dinner with you and talk.)

God is awesome like that! He starts with us where we are; He saves our souls; He begins the process of teaching us and helping us to live godly lives.

He's still teaching me.
I'm still learning.
I'm awfully glad He hasn't given up on me!