Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It’s a crazy-busy, beautiful time of the year but nothing is permitted to get in the way of my Time with the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. When you think of Him that way every day, why would you ever put Him second to anything? As I looked out over the fields this morning I thought about how things are rarely how they appear to be on the surface. The fields look barren, but they’re not – it’s focusing on the surface that can so easily fool us. Beneath the barren “look” is life that will be waiting to spring forth again in just a few months with a little Help from God – and the outer influences He provides like the sun and rain…and so it is with life.

If there’s anything that can get us into trouble it’s drawing our own conclusions by what we see on the surface of life. A smile doesn’t necessarily equate to happiness no more than the winterized foliage equates to barrenness. Seeing someone with material things doesn’t equate to everything being okay behind the wealth no more than seeing someone without material things means they’re not happy. Seeing someone dressed for success doesn’t equate to a full bank account no more than seeing someone not dressed for success means they aren’t. Driving a shiny luxury car doesn’t equate to plenty of expendable income, and driving an older car doesn’t equate to not having the means to upgrade. Living in a mansion doesn’t equate to it being filled with joy and living in a humble abode doesn’t equate to regrets. There’s no end to the assumptions we make by what we see on the surface of life. It’s looking beyond the surface where the truth is found. Without looking below the surface we never know what the view of life really looks like from where we sit. This is the Key to finding the need within each one so we know how to “fill it” with Hope.

Of all the assumptions we make about life the most dangerous assumption comes down to Faith. Going to church doesn’t equate to being a Christian no more than going to a bar equates to being an alcoholic. Being able to quote Scripture doesn’t equate to being a Christian no more than quoting science equates to being a genius. Feeding a few hungry people for the holidays doesn’t equate to being a Christian no more than breaking bread with relatives once in a while equates to a family. Being a Christian comes down to a personal relationship with the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace – and when we have that part “right” we spring forth with Living Water, and the Love and Compassion cannot be contained. We dig below the surface of life with everyone in our path – never judging – because we understand the brokenness of man and we celebrate Forgiveness. We never stop Searching for the Condition of the Heart and sharing our Faith becomes as natural to us as breathing. We love our brothers and sisters in Christ enough to be sure that they’ve not grown barren in the Journey and we never make assumptions based on what we see on the surface. It’s the Holy Spirit that should be dwelling below the surface of every person of Faith and it’s His Spirit that prompts us to Search beyond what we see with our eyes. When He dwells within us we never look at barren without seeing Hope…in and out of the community of Christians.

God used the barren-looking fields this morning to remind me not to make assumptions based on what I see on the outside. Many people can easily be left behind all year long based on assumptions we make by what we see on the surface of life. So, as I celebrate the birth of the King of all Kings, I’ll keep digging below the surface to check the Condition of the Heart of all He puts in my path and I won’t assume anything by what I see. I’ll be Armed and Ready to share the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace throughout the season and every single day of the new year. And THAT’s what the “great commission” looks like below the surface.

How about you?