Warriors Of Peace

The Sunny-Side-Up Car
By Susanne Scheppmann

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." (Philippians 2:3 NIV)

Devotion:

I received a rude hand gesture as I was driving, twice in one day. "What in the world?" I thought. I am a careful and considerate driver, and thought I was driving just fine. I could not remember the last time I had angered another driver to that extent. Today, it happened not once but twice, and I couldn't figure out why.

Then just a few blocks from home, a woman in a sporty yellow convertible raced by me, honking obnoxiously and glaring at me. Finally, it began to dawn on me why this was happening. I usually drive a shiny SUV. Today, I was tooling around in our old car with very faded paint and eggs splattered across it. A few weeks ago, someone had thrown eggs at the car as a prank, and by the time we discovered it, the egg had adhered permanently. We scrubbed and scraped but in the heat of the Nevada desert, the eggs had baked into the paint.

Then an "ah-ha" thought popped into my mind. People were judging my driving skills and me, by my sunny-side-up egged car. Their attitudes became aggressive. They felt they needed to put me in "my place." Their angry actions told me, "Get that thing off the road. Don't you know how to drive, woman?" I suspect this was because my car looked like a disaster.

Sadly, I know I have misjudged, misinterpreted, and misunderstood other people because they look and act differently than I do. Unfortunately, sometimes I inspect the outside and never delve beyond the exterior of the person.

However, today's key verse instructs us differently-- to consider others better than ourselves. In addition, Romans 12:16 advises, "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited." (NIV)

I guess I am thankful for my sunny-side-up egged car. Every time I turn the key in the ignition, I'll be reminded that appearances do not matter.

Dear Lord, forgive me for the times I have judged someone by his or her outward appearance. Remind me that we are all Your children. Grant me the grace to love unconditionally as You do. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

test reply - just to see if I can post

I see alot of this in the church. Many times have I heard people make rude comments about someone, just because the way they are dressed. In reality, I bet the people are better dressed spiritually than those who made the comment.

I've seen this in my youth group too. We have some people who are lower class, and some who are punk rockers. My cousins (who base their opinions on what people wear) thought they should get better clothes and look normal. The turth, it doesn't matter what they wear or how they look, as long as they are going to church. That's something I have to keep telling myself.

Man, this is so true!
The car thing is a really good example.

James 2 is also a really good chapter to read that goes with this concept well...