Don’t Be Quick to Assume
SCRIPTURE
Acts 21:27–29 (NASB95)
When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, upon seeing him in the temple, began to stir up all the crowd and laid hands on him, crying out, "Men of Israel, come to our aid! This is the man who preaches to all men everywhere against our people and the Law and this place; and besides he has even brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with him, and they supposed that Paul had brought him into the temple.
COWBOY WISDOM
Out on the range, a cowboy who spooks a whole herd over something he thought he saw can cause a stampede that hurts everybody — and it all starts with a wrong assumption. The Jews from Asia spotted Paul in the temple and filled in the rest of the story themselves. They had seen Trophimus in the city with Paul earlier, and they assumed the rest. What they supposed was dead wrong — but their assumption nearly cost Paul his life.
Assuming the worst about people is one of the fastest ways to do real damage. Proverbs warns us:
"He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him" (Proverbs 18:13, NASB95).
In other words, get the full story before you open the gate. Willis Cowboy Fellowship was built on a nonjudgmental atmosphere — come as you are. That isn't just a slogan on a sign; it's a posture of the heart. When we stop assuming the worst about where someone has been or what they've done, we create a space where the gospel can do its work.
Jesus Himself sat down with sinners, tax collectors, and the kinds of folks that religious people assumed were beyond reach. He didn't suppose — He saw. He looked past what everyone else had already decided, and He loved people to life. We are called to do the same. The next time you feel the urge to fill in the blanks about someone, ask God to give you His eyes instead of your assumptions.
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
Can you recall a time when an assumption you made about someone turned out to be completely wrong? What did that teach you?
How does a nonjudgmental atmosphere reflect the heart of the gospel? What can you do to help cultivate that in your home, church, or community?
What is one practical step you can take to pause and "get the full story" before reacting to a situation or a person?
How does Proverbs 18:13 challenge the way you typically respond when you see or hear something that bothers you?
PRAYER FOCUS
Father, forgive me for the times I have jumped to conclusions and let my assumptions run ahead of the truth. Help me to be slow to judge and quick to listen — to see people the way You see them, not through the lens of what I think I already know. Give me a generous and patient heart that creates room for others to be known, not condemned. May my words and my silence both honor You today. Amen.
