Beyond Assumptions

Do you find yourself making assumptions about people, places, situations, and circumstances?

"Judging a book by its cover" or drawing conclusions on little (if any) factual information is dangerous stuff.

I'm so glad that Jesus didn't draw an assumption about me (or you) and acted upon it. Instead, Jesus sees all of the facts and lives in reality and hope - not the fear that comes from uncertainty or making a judgment based on a sliver of information.

• While we were still sinners, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8).
• God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:4-5).
  
• Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy (1 Peter 2:10).

Here are three ways we... or, I can get beyond personal assumptions and love people like Jesus loves me.

1. Give people the benefit of the doubt by offering a generous amount of grace. Out of God's fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given (John 1:16). This doesn't mean we become doormats or bury truth under the blanket of cheap grace. It means that we are "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires (James 1:19-20) because that's what Jesus does for us on the cross - and it cost Him His life.
2. When I don't have all of the facts... instead of judging the person, situation, or circumstance - pray for it. Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:43-48). Afterall, it's really hard to judge somebody that I'm praying for!
   
3. Choose peace over war. That might sound odd.  Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?". In a very personal and intimate way, when we make assumptions and judge others based on a limited number of facts, we declare war in our mind between fact and fiction. The Arbinger Institute's book Leadership and Self-Deception explains, when we begin to assume things about people, we place them in a box. We can think of the box as a kind of mental warfare similar to solitary confinement. We single them out, characterize them in a way that only we think they are, and define them based on only what we conclude - not who God says they are. Remember, the other person doesn't know they're in the box you've placed them in within your mind. So, who is the real prisoner of war? More often than not, our minds prefer fiction over facts. As I consider Romans 12:18, "If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone" - I much prefer not fighting the mental battle that comes as a result of making assumptions.
   

Ultimately, Jesus leads us beyond our assumptions. He is not only the model - He is the only One who can judge... and He was judged... for us!

The only One in the entire universe who could make an assumption about us chose instead of making an assumption based on half-truths and partial facts, chose to love us unconditionally.

Here's the point: whether it's giving people the benefit of the doubt, praying for others instead of judging them, or choosing peace over war - Jesus' Spirit is the source of our power when it comes to living this out.

How has Jesus taught you to go beyond making assumptions like He did for you? Drop me an email and let me know.

​Love you!