High Impact Living

THE EYE TEST

Football season has begun. It’s my favorite time of the year. Football has been a part of my life for almost fifty years. There is so much I love about the game. It is the ultimate demonstration of toughness and intellect. The elements it teaches of teamwork, discipline and hard work provide the foundation for success in life.

In football we have what is called “the eye test.” It means when a team gets off the bus you take a look at them and see if they pass the test. Do they look like football players? When they take the field before the game without pads, do they look athletic?

This evaluation has nothing to do with whether they can actually play football or if they really are skilled players. It is all based on whether they look like they can play. Only after seeing the players perform can you know if the eye test evaluation was accurate.

We can do the same thing when we evaluate people. And many times, we can evaluate incorrectly. In II Corinthians 5:16 Paul says, “So we have stopped evaluating others by a human point of view.” Human beings tend to judge by what they see and perceive. Paul tells us he has stopped evaluating the wrong way.

But what is the correct way? I Samuel 16:7 tells us, “People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts.” When God sent Samuel to find a new king to replace Saul he picked Jesse’s oldest son Eliab because he was tall and handsome like Saul.

But God chose Jesse’s youngest son David to be the new king. David was nothing to look at like Saul. The Bible calls him ruddy, which means he probably had light or reddish hair and freckles and was not particularly impressive physically. He was just a lowly shepherd and yet God picked him to be king.

Appearance can be deceptive. God knows our heart, it tells the truth about who we really are. Do you treat people differently based on how they look? Or what they wear? If so, you are evaluating incorrectly. You never really know who that person is.

It’s best to treat everybody like a somebody. Because they are. Don’t let outward appearances cause you to judge wrongly. Treat people kindly and with respect. And let God judge their hearts.

About Rick McDaniel

Rick McDaniel is a noted author, international communicator and church leader. He is the founder/senior pastor of Richmond Community Church in Richmond, Virginia. The church is known for its contemporary and innovative services and has a worldwide reach through www.highimpactchurch.tv. McDaniel has earned three degrees including an advanced degree from Duke University and is the author of​ six​​ books including his latest "Turn Your Setbacks Into Comebacks." He has traveled and spoken at conferences and churches worldwide spanning six continents.

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 New Devotional from Pastor Rick McDaniel: Vida De Alto Impacto con Rick McDaniel

Please let your Spanish friends know that Pastor Rick's Spanish devotional is now available! You can access it on Lightsource.com and Oneplace.com