Simply Insiders! We have got an incredible devotional for you guys today by our very own Jason Ostrander.
If the true definition of criticism were, “passing judgment as to the merits of another person,” then the very act of denying said person would be the highest form of criticism there is.
“Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know the man!’ ” –Matthew 26:74
Peter’s ultimate form of criticism was to completely disassociate himself from the very person and work of his friend Jesus, and the beauty of this story is that we don’t get to see how Jesus responds until that fateful day on the shores of the Galilean Sea.
“Again Jesus said, ‘Peter, do you love me?’ ” –John 21:16
Think about all the things that we might have said to Peter if he denied us:
“Why did you do that?”
“You better explain yourself, Peter!”
“Promise me you‘ll never do that again…”
Now look at what Jesus does as he receives what Peter had to say. Rather than making Peter explain away his criticism—or qualifying what exactly he meant by denying him, he was only concerned about one thing: Peter’s heart.
To say that Jesus “loves” criticism is not to say that he enjoys being criticized—on the contrary: When he receives it, he confronts it with love. Criticism will always be there; how we choose to deal with it will say an awful lot about where our heart is.
Blessings on your journey of loving criticism…
JO
PS- For more on criticism and how to channel it for growth check out Criticism Bites by Brian Berry. ON SALE FOR JUST 3.99 each!!
Keep on Keepin on! LOVE YOU GUYS
- Amber