Critical…or Joyfully Expectant?

By Renee Burt

I wish it wasn’t so easy to slip into becoming a little critical…or maybe even more than a little. But it’s really not all our fault right? If everyone just thought like we thought…or if they would just say what we think they should say (in other words, what we deem to be the proper words)…or if they would just do what they obviously should do (meaning what WE would do in that situation). Let’s take it a step deeper…if they would just believe like we believe…and if they don’t? How can you not be critical when they believe what you feel sure is the wrong thing? How could they think THAT about God? Or how could they interpret that verse to mean THAT? I like the apostle Paul’s response to this critical way of thinking that tries to worm its way into our life, robbing us of our ability to fully appreciate what God is doing in and through each one of us. Check out for yourself what he had to say in today’s verse…I’ve been mulling on it all morning…and I’m determined to weed out any critical seeds that have taken root in my life. It already feels quite liberating, and this day is shaping up to be one joyfully expectant day!

II Corinthians 1:24 MSG ~ We’re not in charge of how you live out the faith, looking over your shoulders, suspiciously critical. We’re partners, working alongside you, joyfully expectant. I know that you stand by your own faith, not by ours.

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