Who hasn’t felt the sting of criticism? In my 5 decades of serving as a Pastor, I have been the target of critics more than a few times. Sometimes their words had an element of truth. Sometimes the critic was upset about some situation that had little to do with me, but my semi-public role left me vulnerable. And sometimes the critic was just avoiding his own insecurities.
Let me quickly add that I have known a great deal of support
and affirmation, too! But, somehow, the voice of the critics always seems
louder. When critics spoke, my usual
response was to take their words to the Lord with a prayer to see clearly, to
learn from what was true, to discard what was not.
In all honesty, knowing my self better than anyone else, it is a source of real
wonder that God would trust me with the care of His Bride, the Church. I know I
am not smart enough, 'Christian' enough, to serve perfectly. I remind
myself that the strength, the wisdom, the gifts belong to my Master and Lord. I
try to remember that I “serve at His pleasure!”
Do you feel incapable? Have critics made you feel inadequate? Have those
feelings bled over into your spiritual life causing your sins and failures to taunt
you from the edge of your consciousness, whispering to you - "You’re a
failure. You cannot do anything right."
Those voices are not just from inside your head. They may be partially rooted
in our own fears but the demons who work at neutralizing or defeating God’s
work in this world are ever- present, too. Every person who takes seriously the
call to live a holy life, who seeks to do God's will – whether they are a pastor
or a plumber- will know that kind of attack.
St. Paul knew this sense of inadequacy. Of the calling to
represent the Kingdom of God, he asks, "Who is equal to such a
task?" and a little further on the text, "It is not that we
think we can do anything of lasting value by ourselves. Our only power and
success come from God." (2 Corinthians 3:5, NLT) The demons attempt to
get the person serious about God and His call to focus on Self. Why? Because the
one thing that is the key to doing spiritual work effectively is the Spirit in
us. It is not our own strength, cleverness, or skills that provide success.
The Bible says, "For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all
your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was
confirmed in you. Therefore, you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly
wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed." (1 Corinthians 1:5-7, NIV)
What a joyful declaration! Christ’s Church is adequate for the task God
has given her. We, who are filled with God’s Spirit, can live as a positive
effective representative of Christ.
I love the ancient preacher’s inspired words to the people who were trying to
rebuild Jerusalem and the Temple centuries before the time of Christ. God spoke
through him to say - "It is not by force nor by strength, but by my
Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6, NLT) That is
still TRUE and the principle is a key to our effective service for Jesus.
What strengths did God see in us that caused Him to choose
us? Nothing!
But He called us, at His own initiative, because of His grace. Then He
promised, "I will enrich you in every way!" Claim His strength.
Do not foolishly ignore your critics! Winston Churchill, Great
Britain’s famed Prime Minister through the terrible years of World War 2 was
frequently criticized. He wisely said “Criticism may not be agreeable, but
it is necessary. It fulfils the same function as pain in the human body; it
calls attention to the development of an unhealthy state of things. If it is
heeded in time, danger may be averted; if it is suppressed, a fatal distemper
may develop.”
Be encouraged by the promise of God to use your strengths and weaknesses, to keep
you steady, and to do ‘more than you can imagine’ through you.
Here's a Word to take with you today.
"God chose things
despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all and used them to bring to nothing what
the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the
presence of God. God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ
Jesus. For our
benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us
acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase
our freedom.
As the Scriptures say, “The person
who wishes to boast should boast only of what the Lord has done.”
(1 Corinthians 1:28-31, NLT)
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A video of this devotion can be found at
https://www.youtube.com/@JerScott55
