MAN’S CRITICISM VERSUS GOD’S LOVE
BIBLE PASSAGE:
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself for me.”
(Galatians 2:20)
MEDITATION:
God loves you so much that Jesus Christ hung in agony on the cross for you.
You are precious to God. You are the object of God’s love. The blood of Jesus
Christ was poured out on Calvary for you. Knowing all of that, you can absorb
any criticism from others. You can rise above what some people say about you.
The cross sets you free. He who died for you, now lives in you. He gave
Himself FOR you, that He might give Himself TO you. When Jesus
Christ died for you, He didn’t just take away your sins, He took away
yourself too.
For we know that our old self was crucified with
Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done
away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.
(Romans 6:6)
That doesn’t have a very good ring to it, does it? But think about what
it means. We, ourselves, are bent toward sin and the lustful desires of
the world. However, Jesus changed all of that! He died for us to give us
an opportunity to become a new person, with a new focus, and a bright
future.
But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant
heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the
day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be
revealed. God “will repay each person according to what
they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing
good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal
life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the
truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There
will be trouble and distress for every human being who does
evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor
and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then
for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.
(Romans 2:5-11)
When we seize the opportunity, we will have to ‘discard’ our ‘old self’,
so we can fully become who He wants us to be. He gave His life for us,
and we, in turn, choose to give up our ‘old life’ for Him. However, we
lose nothing; instead, we gain what our soul longs for – a fellowship
and friendship with our Savior!
Our new status changes everything, doesn’t it? With our new attitude
and focus, the things of the world that ‘pressed down’ on us will no
longer have the same effect on us. We have been crucified with Christ
and how can mankind do harm to a dead person?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to
Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and
desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with
the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and
envying each other.
(Galatians 5:22-26)
It doesn’t mean that hurtful words and actions from others are
not painful, but we have been given a new way of handling them.
We have been given a new capacity for loving the Lord, and loving
others, even when they are unkind to us.
If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body
to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain
nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it
does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others,
it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record
of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the
truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always
perseveres.
(1 Corinthians 13:3-7)
ACTION:
Have you felt the sting of criticism? No matter what others might say
about you, or to you, God is greater than everyone else, and He loves
you. We all like to be liked, but God goes way past ‘liking’, He loves
you!
Give your critic to the Lord and pray for him or her. Then, ask the
Lord to teach you what you need to learn from their hurtful and
unkind words or actions. God is good at turning negatives into
positives, so He is the one we need to depend on, instead of seeking
our own ways of handling criticism.
We should ask ourselves:
– Do I have bitterness toward someone because
of a situation that happened many years ago?
– Shouldn’t I ‘turn loose’ of those feelings so I can live
a life that more closely resembles the life of Jesus?
Whenever we retain bitterness, it only gets worse and it can
cause us to overlook the new person someone has become
through Jesus. Jesus not only forgave those who offended
and injured Him, but He also prayed for them as a way of
confirming His forgiveness.
If we are followers of Jesus, should we be any different than Him?
Bitterness will cause us to look for flaws in the good things a person
does, instead of accepting them as the changed person they have now
become through their relationship with Jesus.
The scriptures tell us to love others (including our enemies and those
who have offended us). We are told that God is love, which means He
is the example we look to when thinking about our love for others.
It is an important choice for us to make. We can continue to harbor
anger and bitterness under the control of Satan, or we can release
them and show love and forgiveness under the control of Jesus.
When we make the right choice, it will have a positive impact on our
own life and health. Instead of trying to find fault in everything that
someone does, we will find joy in looking for the good things they are
doing (or at least trying to do). We transform from having a negative
attitude of criticism to having a positive attitude of forgiveness and
encouragement.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then
you will be able to test and approve what God’s
will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.
(Romans 12:2)
When we experience the joy of encouraging and lifting the spirits of
others, it will create a healthier self-esteem in us. We will also discover
that we can feel the Holy Spirit’s presence in our thoughts, words, and
actions.
Therefore, encourage one another and build
each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
(1 Thessalonians 5:11)
When we think about the magnitude of forgiveness Jesus had for us,
it should motivate us to have the same level of forgiveness for others.
Additionally, we no longer feel the need to change the other person.
We have a new desire to let them know that they are loved by us and
we allow the Lord to do His work to change them. When we do this,
it increases our spiritual health and creates an amiable relationship
with others, and with the Lord.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for allowing my natural
inclinations to govern my life, instead of allowing Your
love and forgiveness to flow through me. If I am holding
on to any bitterness or resentment toward someone, teach
me to pray for them instead, and to look for the positive
changes You are making in their lives. Remind me that my
responsibility is to obey Your command to love them. Instead
of actively trying to change them, teach me to pray for them
and stay out of Your way as You transform them from who
they are, to who You want them to be. Remind me that You
are the One who knows the real person, and You know the
best way to sanctify them into becoming more righteous in
Your sight. Teach me to love others in the way that You love
me.”
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