“Do You Welcome Criticism ??” 3/12/2014

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Godsmanforever
“Our Daily Bread”     http://odb.org/
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                 
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht   
“Homily Grits Devotional”   http://www.homilygrits.com
 
Psalm 26:2-3… Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.
3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I havewalked in thy truth.  (KJV)
 
The opening scripture was penned by David, the young shepherd boy who many years earlier, slew the 9 ft 9 in giant Goliath with a sling and a stone …1 Samuel 17…  David was a man after God’s own heart, as proclaimed in…Acts 13:22-23…  God tells us in this scripture, that He chose David because David would do ALL of God’s will…  Does this mean David was perfect ??  No, on the contrary…David as King, committed adultery with Bathsheba, and then had her husband Uriah killed at the front lines of battle, to try and hide his horrendous sin…2 Samuel 11…
 
David went through many trials in his lifetime…  When he failed to consult the Lord for help, David would fail…  But when David sought the Lord for guidance and direction…he would always be delivered by his Lord… 
 
The opening scripture has David asking the Lord to examine him, in order to help him live righteously…  We see this more clearly in this Psalm, also written by David, in…Psalm 139:23-24… Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if therebe any wicked way inme, and lead me in the wayeverlasting.  (KJV)
 
David penned this, in the opening scripture…“I havewalked in thy truth”…  My friends, when we learn to walk in the truth which God has given to us in the Bible…we will be walking in the Spirit(Galatians 5:16) as a redeemed child of God, who has been set free from Satan’s bonds of sin and shame…  Jesus tells us this, when we are abiding in His Word as a true disciple of Jesus Christ, in…John 8:31-32… Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  (NKJV)
 
I spent a day writing… “What is a Disciple of Jesus Christ ??”, back on 11/18/2013…that can be found @ www.Godsmanforever.com by typing this date as shown into the search window…  In this day of writing you will find scripture recorded of Jesus’ spoken words, which will define what Jesus requires of His redeemed children to be considered a true disciple (follower) of Jesus Christ…
 
Abiding in Jesus’ Word, from John 8:31-32 above, means the true disciple of Christ understands, obeys, and practices Jesus’ teachings that can best be learned by habitually spending time reading, digesting (Matthew 4:4), and then putting into practice what Jesus’ and His Word reveals as the inerrant truth God wants all of us to understand and obey…
 
This intro sets up my writing for today…  If you are a Christian, do you welcome another Christian coming to you with something they have spotted in you that seems out of place or maybe even a sin in God’s eyes ??  Or do you believe like so many others, that they are judging you…and you quote scripture like…Matthew 7:1-2…  “Judge not, that youbenotjudged. 2 For with whatjudgment you judge, youwill be judged; and with the measure you use, itwill be measuredback to you.”  (NKJV)
 
And then there is this scripture about judging others, as penned by James, Jesus’ half brother, in…James 4:12… There is oneLawgiver,who is able to save and to destroy. Who are youtojudgeanother?  (NKJV)
 
My friends, before you continue reading, I would ask you to please listen to this 4:17 minute video that inspired my writing for today, found by going to…   http://illbehonest.com/defensive-people-are-prideful-mack-tomlinson
 
The theme of this video tells us that when we as Christians are defensive when someone comes to us out of love and concern for us, to point something out in our lives to try and help us in our spiritual walk…and we become defensive…it is pride and spiritual immaturity that well up with-in us, because we don’t like to admit that we might be wrong… 
 
But once we understand that God’s Word teaches us to speak to a fellow brother or sister in Christ, when we observe something we believe God would not like…we are really following instructions given to us by God Himself, through His Word…  I am reminded of scripture like this, written by the apostle Paul, in…Galatians 6:1-2… Brethren, if a man is overtaken in anytrespass, you who are spiritualrestore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  (NKJV)
 
And then you have this scripture spoken by Jesus, as recorded in…John 7:24… “Do not judge according to appearance, butjudge with righteousjudgment.”  (NKJV)   My friends, if we really care about those around us…especially our fellow church body…we are doing them a favor by speaking to them out of our love for them, when we see them in an ungodly trespass…  None of us are perfect…  And we can all have blind spots in our own lives, which we may never be able to see without help from those around us who are more spiritually mature than we are…
 
I for one will always be open to constructive criticism by my fellow church brethren, who spot anything ungodly in what I say or do…  A true disciple of Jesus Christ should be one who is diligently learning and growing in spiritual maturity…  The goal of all Christians should be: to be working on being more and more conformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29), as they grow closer to the time they will stand face to face with the Lord in heaven…  
 
Christians should not only listen quietly to a more mature Christian who out of love for them is trying to help them in their spiritual walk…the younger Christian should welcome correction from their insightful brethren with open arms, and be thankful for their godly direction…
 
Heavenly Father, I pray Your Word will open the eyes of Your children who are filled with defensiveness, when a more mature Christian tries to speak to them out of love and concern, to help them in their spiritual walk with You…  I pray Lord, that everyone spend the time to listen to this short video, pointing out the sins of pride and prejudice with-in Your church body…  I pray Lord, that all of Your redeemed children will seek to become true followers of Your will and Your ways…  I pray for this fullness of Christ in all of our lives, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
 
Blessings in Christ,  bruce r mills

 

 

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About Godsmanforever

I present posts about God's Word, with a personal focus on how God's grace is received through saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ... Sinners must understand and obey the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ... See this link for more... https://godsmanforever.com/2014/10/26/the-truth-about-sin-10262014-by-bruce-reposted-from-7112013/
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