Are you a good judge of character?

Ever been wrong about someone? Thought they were solid, only to find out they were fake? Or maybe you wrote someone off as a lost cause, but later realized they had more heart than you gave them credit for. Let’s be real—we’re bad at judging people. Why? Because we only see the surface, but God looks straight at the heart. And if we wanna get it right, we can’t do it on our own. We need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes, plain and simple.

Stop Judging by What You See

Most of us are quick to judge, aren’t we? We size people up based on how they look, talk, or act. But Jesus said it loud and clear in John 7:24: “Don’t judge by appearances; judge with righteous judgment.” Translation? Stop thinking you know what’s up just because you see the outside.

Think about 1 Samuel 16:7: God told Samuel, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” That’s deep. While we’re busy being impressed (or not) by what’s on the outside, God is peeping what really matters—the intent of the heart.

Here’s the thing: we can’t see someone’s heart on our own. That’s why so many of us get it wrong. We think we’re good judges of character, but without the Holy Spirit? Forget it.

The Holy Spirit Is the Key

You wanna judge right? You need backup, and the Holy Spirit is it. Jesus told us in John 16:13 that the Spirit would lead us into all truth. That means He’ll help us see through the fake smiles, smooth talk, and even the good deeds that might not come from the right place.

It’s like this: people can fool you, but they can’t fool the Holy Spirit. He sees what’s real. And when you let Him guide you, He’ll show you things you’d never catch on your own. 1 Corinthians 2:10 says the Spirit searches even the deep things of God, so you better believe He can search a person’s heart, too.

Look at the Fruit, Not the Flash

Jesus gave us a blueprint for figuring people out in Matthew 7:16: “You’ll know them by their fruits.” Don’t get caught up in someone’s words or vibe—look at what their life produces. Is it love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and all the other fruits of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-23? Or is it division, selfishness, and drama?

Here’s the deal: good fruit doesn’t lie. Someone can fake it for a while, but the truth will always show up in their actions. That’s why the Holy Spirit teaches us to look for the fruit, not the flash. It’s not about how good someone looks or sounds—it’s about what their life says when no one’s watching.

Start with Yourself

Let’s be real for a second. We love to judge other people, but how often do we look at ourselves? Jesus didn’t mince words in Matthew 7:3-5 when He said, “Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye but ignore the log in your own?” Ouch.

Before you start trying to figure out someone else’s motives, ask the Holy Spirit to check your own heart. Psalm 139:23-24 is the prayer to pray: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there’s any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

When you get your own heart right first, it’s a whole lot easier to judge others with love and humility. And let’s not forget—God’s the ultimate judge, not us.

Bottom Line: Stay in Your Lane

Here’s the takeaway: Judging the intent of someone’s heart is way above our pay grade. You can’t do it without the Holy Spirit. Period. Let Him lead you, help you check your own motives, and show you what’s real in others.

Stop relying on what you see or think you know. Pray for discernment, look at the fruit, and remember—God’s the only one who truly knows the heart. You? Stay humble, stay faithful, and stay in your lane.

—Joshua L Mullins