Today's Readings - Job 25-26, Acts 28:1-16, Psalm 91:1–6, Proverbs 19:22–24
Devotional
In Philippians 1, Paul would describe the purpose of his life. "For to me, to live is Christ." He did not live for himself, or for money, or for fun or for anything else, just for Jesus Christ. He demonstrated this commitment, this passion, clearly in Acts 28:1-6.
Driven ashore on the Island of Malta and miraculously preserved by God, the people made a fire to warm themselves on that stormy night. Paul threw some brush he'd gathered on the fire and when he did, a viper, driven out by the heat, latched on to Paul's hand, biting him. The people began to talk among themselves, making assumptions based on their pagan beliefs. That must be a truly wicked man. Having escaped the shipwreck, now the goddess Justice has sent a snake to end his life. They watched and waited for the goddesses' retribution on Paul's sin to take effect. Nothing happened. He shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no ill effects of the bite. Now, everything was changed. They no longer looked at him as a tragic example of evil but regarded him as a god come to earth. In a few moments, he went from being disdained to being venerated as divine.
And Paul showed no reaction to either. When the crowd was looking at him as a sinner deserving the bite of a poisonous snake, he showed no concern. when they suddenly regarded him as a god, he did not react then either. He just went about his business, doing God's work. He healed and preached for all the time that they were on the island.
Paul lived for Jesus and because he did he was neither devastated by the criticism and negative opinions of others nor was he lifted up in pride when he received adulation. Those who do not have their minds and hearts completely fixed on Christ can find themselves derailed by either praise or criticism.
Many Christians are devastated when anyone criticizes them. Would that it was not so, but Christians can be very critical of one another. You sense the call of God to engage in ministry, to serve him in some way. When you do, something thinks it is a bad idea or that you are doing it wrong. Someone questions your motives or denigrates your character. That can suck the air right out of your sails. But if you are focused completely on Christ, you care only about his pleasure and you continue in the work he has given you. If to live is Christ, then the unfair criticism of others will not harm you or distract you.
Perhaps the greatest temptation is the praise and honor of others. When people give you adulation the temptation is there to become self-centered, to engage in self-glory and to forget that it is all about Jesus. Praise can be as great a temptation as criticism. God will lift up the one who has been beaten down by others, but when we allow ourselves to be lifted up in pride, we set ourselves in opposition to the glory of God.
The solution is simple - to devote ourselves to Christ as Paul did. Then, whether others laud us or load us with criticism, the mission continues unhindered. We continue to serve and continue to love because it is not about me, but about him.
Father, may my life, as Paul's, be focused on Jesus Christ and his mission in this world, not on what others think of me or say about me, whether good or bad.
Think and Pray
Can you say with Paul, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain?"
How do the praise and criticisms of others affect you?
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