God wants to bless us in all areas of our lives. However, some things that we do, such as finding fault with others, block those blessings. His grace meets us where we are, but never leaves us there. He wants to give us His best—but we must cooperate for that to happen.

As free moral agents, we can quietly block God’s blessings with criticism and blame. Jesus faced this head-on in His ministry. He healed, taught, and loved with authority and compassion, but the religious leaders still nitpicked His every move. When He healed a man of palsy and forgave his sins, some of the scribes said to themselves that He was blasphemous for doing so.

Instead of celebrating healing, the scribes were determined not to cooperate. They criticized Jesus’ method, choosing to focus so much on His perceived faults that they missed His miracles. This is a dangerous way of thinking, and we must ask ourselves if we’re like them. Like Jesus, we must keep in mind that those who are sick, not those who are whole, are the ones needing a physician.

When Jesus encountered the naysayers and the doubters, He didn’t stop to argue with them, but kept His eyes on the harvest. He knew people needed to be saved, and time was too valuable to waste with cynics and critics. He told His disciples that the harvest was plenty, but the laborers were few.

Criticism still happens today. People bite and devour one another to the point of destruction. However, we don’t have to come down to the level of our critics when we’re working to spread the Gospel of Grace. Like Nehemiah, we must say, “I am engaged in a great work, so I can’t come. Why should I stop working to come and meet with you?”

Dispensing with criticism and judgment allows us to receive from God. Walking in love enables us to see the big picture. Cooperating with God positions us for blessings. Top of Form

Prayer:Bottom of Form

Lord, when we do the right thing and avoid finding fault with others, we allow You to use us to fulfill Your plan of reaching lost souls. Thank you for entrusting us with this lifesaving task. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scriptures:

Matthew 9:2, 3, 37

Mark 2:17

Luke 5:31

Galatians 5:15, NLT

Nehemiah 6:3, NLT