One of the things I do over on the Growing4Life Facebook page (and also my personal page, as well) is to share old posts. I have been writing for thirteen years now and so there is much here on the blog that may be worth a revisit. Yesterday, I shared a post about responding to criticism (find it here).
A few hours after I shared it, I was criticized. I responded as I tend to do—with a defensive and argumentative spirit. Even after reading what I wrote earlier in that same day about how God, according to His Word, wants us to respond to criticism, my flesh took over and I failed. Miserably.
A few minutes after that all happened, I thought of the post I had shared earlier that day and my failure in responding as I had encouraged my readers to respond.
And I wanted to share this because I just want to remind you of something that is very important to me as I blog here at Growing4Life.
I want to assure you that I do not believe that I have arrived spiritually. I do not believe that I am somehow way ahead of you in my walk with Christ. And, in fact, I realize with humility and sometimes with humiliation, that I am far behind many of you in lots of areas.
I simply write what God’s Word says and try to live what I write. But I am still faced with challenges and temptations as I endeavor to do this. I don’t deserve (nor do I want) any pedestal. I also do not want anyone to believe I consider myself above any of you, for I do NOT.
One of the things that has caused so much strife in the body of Christ are misperceptions and assumptions about our brothers and sisters in Christ. We believe things that may not be true. And so it was important to me today to just say once more: I do not consider myself anything special because I happen to write at Growing4Life. God has give me this ministry for His good reasons and it is my prayer that He—and you—will find me faithful in sharing His Word here. But He will not find me perfect and sinless in my life and neither will you.
May we grow together, unified in our love for God and His Word and in our abundant grace for one another as we strive to please God while still living in the flesh. Knowing that one day, our battle with sin will be over and we will forever be with the Lord!
AMEN!
Oh, the battle with the flesh. I fear I react too often as you did…defensively with hackles raised. Sigh. Thanks for your transparency and honesty. One day at a time…
Amen!!
That is so true for all of us! Jesus is the ONLY PERFECT ONE!
Yes! God finds ways of humbling us and making us face some truths about ourselves and our fellow Christians. We are all involved in spiritual battles. Thank you for your honesty and humility. Thank goodness we can turn to Him and be assured of His forgiveness. Forgiven not forsaken!
In the secular world so much emphasis is placed on ‘seeking out our true selves’ and ‘accepting ourselves’. I’m so glad God’s plan is not for us to be stuck as we are but to be continually transforming to be more like His Son through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us.
“Forgiven not forsaken” ❤️ Amen!