Proverbs 15:31-33

No one likes criticism, but encountering some is inevitable, so we need to learn how to respond in a godly way. Although you might be tempted to become defensive or angry, remain calm and listen. The words may hurt, but great benefits come to those who carefully consider what is said.

If we refuse to accept reproof, we’ll limit our potential for Christlike character development and spiritual growth. Some of life’s best lessons come through difficult experiences. If God allowed the situation, you can be sure that He wants to use it in transforming you into His Son’s image. Whether the criticism is valid or not, whether it’s delivered with kindness or harshness, your goal should always be to respond in a way that glorifies the Lord. Remember that you are responsible only for how you handle yourself, not for how the other person is acting.

When a criticism comes your way, be quiet and listen until the other person has finished. Make direct eye contact to show attentiveness and respect. When your critic finishes, thank him for bringing his concerns to your attention, and tell him that you will consider what he’s said. Ask the Lord if the accusation is valid. Let Him search your heart and either affirm your innocence or convict you.

Every rebuke is an opportunity from God. It’s a chance to let your Christian character shine by showing love to your critic. If he is angrily attacking you, your respect and kindness become a powerful testimony. Criticism is also an occasion to humble yourself and accept the Lord’s correction.

With the occasion of U.S. Memorial Day in my mind, I was thinking about my grandfather. For years he marched in our small hometown parade, proudly representing the United States Air Force. I have not made it home for the parade in the past few years, but in my mind are countless parades past. I recall the serious look on his face as he carried himself and the uniform on his back with stately regard. When I was among the cheering crowd I loved to watch his official countenance momentarily dissolve as the veterans marched past our house. For those of us waving from the front porch my grandfather always reserved a warm smile and a distinguished nod.

But one thing that would remain meticulously unaffected—whether grinning at grandchildren or honoring the flag with his attention—was his careful propensity to march in step. Carrying the weighted memories of all that our nation attempts to pause and remember on Memorial Day, a veteran could perhaps do nothing less.

But when the roles were reversed, and my sister and I were marching in the junior high band while my grandfather was looking on, we were the slouching targets of his disgust. “Did you realize that no one in your marching band was actually marching? Not one of you was in step.” While the etiquette of carrying oneself with proper time and rhythm may have been lost on teenagers, to my grandfather, marching in step was as necessary as remembering to wear shoes.

To this day, I cannot watch a parade without duly noticing if its participants are in step with the drummer. And I realize now that to march in step one must first want to march in step. It requires a willingness to hear the cadence and align oneself with it accordingly. Subsequently, our unwillingness to march in step said something about our band, our commitment and unity, our respect for what we were doing, and our willingness to follow the authority of the drummer. And it was true; while we prided ourselves on performing in concert, we did not see ourselves as a marching band, and it showed in our walk. Moreover, the attitudes with which we carried ourselves ultimately affected our sound.

Christianity uses a similar imagery where it speaks of keeping “in step” with the Spirit as it relates to fruit and authority. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:24-25). The apostle Paul wants followers of Christ to recognize that the fruit we produce as his followers is directly related to the cadence we pursue. If our desire is to march to our own beat and direct our own way, we are likely to be out of step with Christ and out of touch with the Spirit.

There are so many ways to walk through life. There are so many drummers to choose as guiding authorities of life’s parade. The question of cadence is related to every aspect of life; from the way we carry ourselves to the tune we produce as we go along. In the earnest prayer of Psalm 119, the psalmist recognizes both his heartfelt need for a “drummer” and a desire to walk in his better way. “Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.” Like marchers who align themselves with one calling out the better cadence, the Christian pilgrim aligns herself with the enduring voice of God and the victorious life of Christ. She is being led further into the house of heaven by the very one who is preparing her room.

Since it is in Christ’s steps the Christian follows, by the Spirit that he lives, and by God’s voice that he is directed, his steps are aligned by the Spirit accordingly, walking forward in faith, treading where the saints have trod. No doubt, like my grandfather, the heavens rejoice at the sight of the great cloud of witnesses, who, in following hard after Christ by the Spirit who enables them, find themselves marching in step.

Jill Carattini is managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia

Morning    “The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron.”  2 Samuel 15:23

David passed that gloomy brook when flying with his mourning company from his

traitor son. The man after God’s own heart was not exempt from trouble, nay, his

life was full of it. He was both the Lord’s Anointed, and the Lord’s Afflicted.

Why then should we expect to escape? At sorrow’s gates the noblest of our race

have waited with ashes on their heads; wherefore then should we complain as

though some strange thing had happened unto us?

The King of kings himself was not favoured with a more cheerful or royal road.

He passed over the filthy ditch of Kidron, through which the filth of Jerusalem

flowed. God had one Son without sin, but not a single child without the rod. It

is a great joy to believe that Jesus has been tempted in all points like as we

are. What is our Kidron this morning? Is it a faithless friend, a sad

bereavement, a slanderous reproach, a dark foreboding? The King has passed over

all these. Is it bodily pain, poverty, persecution, or contempt? Over each of

these Kidrons the King has gone before us. “In all our afflictions he was

afflicted.” The idea of strangeness in our trials must be banished at once and

forever, for he who is the Head of all saints, knows by experience the grief

which we think so peculiar. All the citizens of Zion must be free of the

Honourable Company of Mourners, of which the Prince Immanuel is Head and

Captain. Notwithstanding the abasement of David, he yet returned in triumph to his city,

and David’s Lord arose victorious from the grave; let us then be of good

courage, for we also shall win the day. We shall yet with joy draw water out of

the wells of salvation, though now for a season we have to pass by the noxious

streams of sin and sorrow. Courage, soldiers of the Cross, the King himself

triumphed after going over Kidron, and so shall you.

 

Evening    “Who healeth all thy diseases.”    Psalm 103:3

Humbling as is the statement, yet the fact is certain, that we are all more or

less suffering under the disease of sin. What a comfort to know that we have a

great Physician who is both able and willing to heal us! Let us think of him

awhile tonight. His cures are very speedy–there is life in a look at him; his

cures are radical–he strikes at the centre of the disease; and hence, his cures

are sure and certain. He never fails, and the disease never returns. There is no

relapse where Christ heals; no fear that his patients should be merely patched

up for a season, he makes new men of them: a new heart also does he give them,

and a right spirit does he put within them. He is well skilled in

all diseases. Physicians generally have some speciality. Although they may know

a little about almost all our pains and ills, there is usually one disease which

they have studied above all others; but Jesus Christ is thoroughly acquainted

with the whole of human nature. He is as much at home with one sinner as with

another, and never yet did he meet with an out-of-the-way case that was

difficult to him. He has had extraordinary complications of strange diseases to

deal with, but he has known exactly with one glance of his eye how to treat the

patient. He is the only universal doctor; and the medicine he gives is the only

true catholicon, healing in every instance. Whatever our spiritual

malady may be, we should apply at once to this Divine Physician. There is no

brokenness of heart which Jesus cannot bind up. “His blood cleanseth from all

sin.” We have but to think of the myriads who have been delivered from all sorts

of diseases through the power and virtue of his touch, and we shall joyfully put

ourselves in his hands. We trust him, and sin dies; we love him, and grace

lives; we wait for him and grace is strengthened; we see him as he is, and grace

is perfected forever.

 

. . . So that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.    Romans 6:6

Christian, why would you play with sin? Has it not cost you enough already? Burnt child, will you play with the fire? What! When you have already been between the jaws of the lion, will you step a second time into his den? Have you not had enough of the old serpent? Did he not poison all your veins once, and will you play at the cobra’s den and put your hand in the dragon’s lair a second time?

Do not be not so mad, so foolish! Did sin ever yield you real pleasure? Did you find solid satisfaction in it? If so, go back to your old drudgery, and wear the chain again, if it delights you. But inasmuch as sin never gave you what it promised to bestow but deluded you with lies, do not be snared by the old fowler: Be free, and let the memory of your enslavement prevent you from entering the net again!

It is contrary to the designs of eternal love, which are all focused on your purity and holiness; therefore do not run counter to the purposes of your Lord.

Another thought should restrain you from sin. Christians can never sin cheaply; they pay a heavy price for iniquity. Transgression destroys peace of mind, obscures fellowship with Jesus, hinders prayer, brings darkness over the soul; therefore do not be the serf and slave of sin.

There is still a higher argument: Each time you serve sin you are “crucifying once again the Son of God . . . and holding him up to contempt.”1 Can you bear that thought? If you have fallen into any special sin during this day, it may be that my Master has sent this admonition this evening to bring you back before you have wandered very far. Turn to Jesus afresh. He has not forgotten His love for you; His grace is still the same. With weeping and repentance, come to His footstool, and you shall be reunited in His love; you will be set upon a rock again, and your goings shall be established.

1Hebrews 6:6

The family reading plan for May 30, 2012

Isaiah 31 | Revelation 1