Matthew 21:9 says, “And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” 

Have you ever missed watching your favorite team play, but you go to ESPN and wait to watch the highlights of the game? You have the game figured out in your own eyes based upon a couple of highlights and the stats a sports analyst gives. Unless you watched the game, you really do not fully grasp all of the work put in that game or everything that particularly happened. In basketball, for example, you may miss some hustle plays that made a difference in the outcome of a game, such as important rebounds or steals. All you get to see is the guy who scored 30 points and gets recognized for his offensive efficiency. The reason you misjudge the game is because of only watching the highlights.

Spiritually, we judge people because of the highlights. We see them as really good or really bad based on what we see or hear. We only see them as the pastor who preaches behind the pulpit instead of the husband who loves his wife or the one who prays and seeks the face of God when no one is watching. We condemn someone based upon someone else’s gossip or negative Facebook posts. All of these are determined by the highlights instead of the full story. Take David for example. People forget that he was a man after God’s own heart, an anointed musician and a true king in leading Israel. They see him as the guy who messed up with Bathsheba, but generations later, someone named Jesus would be called, “The Son of David.” In David’s lineage would come the Messiah, the Savior of the world. It is very easy to beat David up now, but how do we appear to others? Do we try to act as though we have never sinned and come short? We just want to show people the highlights of our lives with a two hour church service on Sunday morning. What is our hidden devotion and intimacy with Jesus like? Do we pray and read the Word like we should? What do we allow on our computer or television screen? We must refuse to misjudge ourselves or others based on highlights. Get the full story and follow Jesus wholeheartedly!