How Well Do You Receive Criticism?

Prayer – Lord, You know how sensitive I am. Only through Your love and grace have I come to the point in my life that I can humbly receive criticism. Thank you for changing me. 

If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored. Proverbs 13:18 NLT

If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31

In the end, people appreciate honest criticism far more than flattery. Proverbs 28:23 NLT

 

Meditate. Read God’s word and listen to what He is saying.

 

Are you critical...or a critical thinker?
How well do you take criticism?

Gorilla at the Omaha Zoo.

What does it mean to be critical? We think of it as being judgmental, expressing disapproval or finding faults. How well do you receive criticism? I used to be very sensitive to being criticized—since I am by nature a people pleaser. With the help of Jesus, I’ve come to the point that I can receive criticism—especially constructive criticism and something that is helpful and I can even look forward to making improvements in my writing, painting, or whatever—even relationships.

 

Jesus had critical comments to make to six of the seven churches which could be for individuals as well as churches. You can see by the list that these churches were doing things—sinful things that of course would be offensive to God. Of course, Jesus would criticize them as they were leading others astray and not following His teaching of love, service, and purity.

 

Name of the church	Criticism for the churches
Ephesus	Forsaken first love; no enthusiasm.
Smyrna	NONE
Pergamum	People who follow Balaam and taught to sin; follow Nicolaitan teachings.
Thyatira	Tolerate Jezebel, misleading Christians into immorality and other sins.
Sardis	Deeds are incomplete; reputation for being alive but are dead spiritually.
Philadelphia,	The followers of Satan, those liars will be forced to kneel before believers and acknowledge Christ’s love for them.
Laodicea	Neither hot or cold, but lukewarm; wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, naked

How well do you receive criticism?

Does criticism make you want to change? In the next few days we’ll look at the counsel, commands, and promises that Jesus gave these same churches.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:10

 

Knowing the Lord is what life is all about.

Knowing Him is Life.

© 2023 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved. 

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted. 

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. 

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm. 

 

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