Criticism: October 27, 2009

TODAYS WORD FOR TUESDAY OCTOBER 27, 2009

CRITICISM

Defined by Webster:
An act of passing judgment as to the merits of anything; an act of passing judgment; censure; an unfavorable comment.

GODS WORD

“For the Lord will judge His people and have compassion on His servants.” Deuteronomy 32:36

“Judge not that you be not judged.” Matthew 7:1

“You judge according to the flesh, I judge no one.” John 8:15

WORDS FROM KEN AND DOTTIE

We can remember being with people in past years that have been very critical of people, places and things. It seemed that no one could do anything right in their sight. In the world we live in there are many people that just by their nature need to be critical in their evaluation of others. These people are always negative in their thinking and do not seem to enjoy any of the blessings of life.

In real life if you continually associate with one who is critical, you soon will become just as critical yourself. Life is full of choices and we need to choose people that we associate with daily who are kind, considerate and look at what is good in others rather than looking for something to criticize. People criticize others because they are trying to boost their own egos.

The Bible gives us guidelines about criticism. When we criticize someone or something we become a judge and we are passing our judgment on another person’s actions. But we do not know the circumstances that they are facing and our criticism comes from not knowing all the facts. In John 8:15 (above), Jesus was defending himself to the Pharisees who were critical of His witness --- telling the masses that he was the Son of God. At this point in time they did not believe that Jesus was who He said He was. Jesus responded to them by saying that they judged according to the flesh but He judged no one. This is a lesson for us today because when we judge or criticize someone or something it is done out of the flesh and not of God.

As parents we taught our children to respect others no matter who they were or what they did. We often explained that criticism hurt and hurting people was not of God.

TODAYS FAMILY PRAYER

Help me today not to criticize people that I meet, places where I go or things that I see. May others see in me a compassionate person that glorifies You in all that I do and say. Give me a tender heart and a new love for all I touch with my life.