FRIDAY 3RD FEB.,2017

TOPIC: STOP BEING SO CRITICAL (3)
TEXT: Romans 12:10 “Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another…”

Having a critical attitude may not destroy your relationship with God, but it’ll definitely hurt your capacity to experience His love, His presence, and His blessing. It was God who smote Miriam with leprosy. She started out by criticizing her brother Moses, and ended up feeling the consequences in her relationship with the Lord. Why? God pays attention to the way we treat each other! You might be wondering ‘Why would God make such a big deal out of this?’. Beloved, when you choose to sin, you choose to suffer the consequences because the wages of sin has a result. Everything God classifies as sin is hurtful to you – everything. When God says, ‘Don’t,’ what He really means is, ‘Don’t hurt yourself.’ Therefore, when He says, ‘Don’t criticize,’ He’s not trying to deprive you of satisfaction, He’s saying that having a critical attitude goes against who He made you to be, and what you’re called to do. Just as fishes were made to swim and birds were made to fly; you are made to live in fellowship with God – and a critical spirit hinders that fellowship. The Holy Spirit-a sweet and excellent Helper, Advocate, Standby, and Make-up does not bond with one given to harsh judgment but helps our infirmities. He closes people’s eyes against our errors and magnifies our efforts. Even people who don’t claim to be particularly religious are cognizant of the negative effects of criticism: habitual fault-finders and constant critics of people and things around them. As children of God, let us be concerned about the welfare, needs and spiritual condition of others, honoring and eagerly respecting the good qualities in people. There’s no doubt about it, the habit of criticizing is a selfdestructive way to live. Don’t go there.

Meditation: Isa 9:2, Jn. 8:12

Bible Study
Gen. 35&36; Mark 6; Job 2; Romans 6