"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE FACING CRITICISM BY OTHERS"

"HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE FOR THOSE FACING CRITICISM BY OTHERS"

Luke 6:1 Now it happened on the second Sabbath after the first that He went through the grainfields. And His disciples plucked the heads of grain and ate them, rubbing them in their hands.

Luke 6:2 And some of the Pharisees said to them, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?”

Luke 6:3 But Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read this, what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:

Luke 6:4 “how he went into the house of God, took and ate the showbread, and also gave some to those with him, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat?”

Luke 6:5 And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Some explanatory thoughts and application:

1. It's comforting to know that Jesus faced the same things, time and time again. The Scriptures above are a classic example of a particular time when He was being criticized.

2. The critics of Jesus, and the critics of God's people are generally of the same mind set. They are people who self righteous, and not walking in the grace and love of God. Thus you have the Pharisees as a classic example.

3. They were fault finders. Always looking for faults in Jesus and His disciples. On the other hand, Jesus is the fault forgiver, and the fault fixer.

4. One other thing about Jesus is that He always stood up for His disciples, and He will stand up for you as well if you let Him.

5. The way that Jesus stands up for You is through the truth of His Word. He will show You just as He did in the verses above, what is true and what is not. Ask Him to help you the next time (or maybe at this time if you are the object of some critic’s.)

6. Essentially what Jesus was saying to His critics, is that He, Himself was the Lord over all, and that the things of God have been given to man, for man's blessing and encouragement, not to make His life a burden.

7. So, remember, You have Jesus in your life. He is Lord of all. He if for You, He will help You, He will defend You, He will keep You, and He will protect You.
Pray for your critics, and ask God to help them see the Love God has for them, and the love that God calls them and all of us to walk in.

He is the judge, we are not called to condemn others. We are called to encourage, and love others, to build them up and help them know and walk with God.

A prayer:

Lord, we ourselves have no doubt been critics many, many times. We pray for You to forgive us of our being fault finders. Help us to be fault helpers, to point people to You the one who fixes lives, and fixes faults. May we be more like You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.