Most people have to work to avoid being judgmental. I know I do, especially these days, while scrolling Instagram and coming across people who say or do things that just make no sense in my mind. Sometimes they don’t even have to do or say anything—they just look [kooky? lazy? ignorant? You fill in the blank].
But John 7:24 reads, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.” Jesus drops this truth bomb to push us past surface-level assumptions. I watched the Oscars last night, and yes, I got “judgy.”
It’s easy to see someone’s highlight reel—fame, success, or a megawatt smile—and miss the grit or grief they’ve wrestled with. John 7:24 calls us to dig deeper, to see people with fairness and empathy, not just what they project.
Think of Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. To many people, he’s the ultimate success story—ripped, charismatic, a Hollywood titan who’s got it all together. That million-dollar grin and “Can You Smell What The Rock Is Cooking?” persona scream invincibility. But peel back the curtain, and you find a guy who’s battled depression, watched his mom attempt suicide after an eviction, and clawed his way up from a failed football career. Even now, as he juggles blockbuster roles and business ventures, he’s open about the mental health struggles that don’t show up on the red carpet. John 7:24 reminds us: don’t just see the muscle—see the man who’s fought through more than most realize.
So, who else might be hiding a storm behind their shine? If we must judge, this verse dares us to look closer and judge wisely.
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