Some are experiencing “death by criticism” right now. And you need to fight for your life and extinguish those flaming arrows with prayer and the blood of Jesus Christ! Criticism should be constructive. Not destructive!
Proverbs 26:17-19 “He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own
Is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
18 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death,
19 Is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, “I was only joking!”
Let’s think about dogs for a moment. What do they do? Our dogs used to fight over a bone (even if they each were given their own bone!). It was sport to them. Now, dogs to not have the make-up of human beings. They do not ask questions like; “How come you don’t go chew on your own bone?”
The nature of dogs is to fight over a bone, bite for sport, and if someone bothers their home or family “growl, snarl,” and maybe even bite someone! The Nature of crows is to eat your seeds (of Faith).
And look at the passage above. How do you “throw” Death at someone?
James says “life and death” are in the tongue (and it can be an unruly evil full of deadly poison!). How so?
I had a friend who called me once, and said how some Christians told her how “messed up she was’ by a certain activity she was doing. I’ve heard countless stories of how someone “Christian” said “do you need prayer?” The person said “yes’ and the Christian (a representative of Jesus by the way) told them how God isn’t going to answer because of sin in their life.
It could be anything from smoking, drinking or living with someone not married yet, to not attending church, or listening to the wrong type of music. THEIR SIN is not your business! It’s God’s business! And their business! and if he has you say anything to convict them A HUGE dose of God love will go out in front of your words so that hearing about their sin will be so full of Love they will say THANK YOU For the conviction. That’s how GOD works! He is not a soul killer that kills people with the letter of His laws!!!!. The letter of the law kills the Spirit BRINGS LIFE!!!
2 Corinthians 3:6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for theletter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
TELL ME one example where Jesus Said they could not be prayed for because of sin? IN fact, even for those IN Christ it says in James “and the prayer of faith will make the sick man well, and his sins will be forgiven.” (James 5).
So then, death by criticism comes in many forms. The Spirit of God brings life, and a person’s hope is renewed that God’s going to help them. When someone comes along and says; “He will not” because of sin, because this person is not doing what YOU did to get where you are at, or because God just doesn’t do that (according to You!) You are causing “Death by Criticisim” and you don’t even know what you are talking about. You are not God! You don’t KNOW what he will do or not do. Capiche?
These Crow-like ways are NOT the nature of God!
Faith is fragile when it first starts out. It’s like a tender young plant, and the seed of faith is growing into this beautiful & young (sapling, tree) and if someone comes along and “mows it down” with their words of Unbelief, jealousy, or anything else not of God, it’s like the crow who stole the seed in Matthew 13.
So (Christian) your job is to Protect the seed. Watch over it, guard it, and chase off the crows!
The seeds of God are far more precious than any seed upon this earth! You need that garden of God’s word to live on! Don’t allow the devil to “kill your dreams” through others that don’t agree with you.
IF you are not all the way perfect, or right with God yet (in every area of your life), welcome to the club (of humanity). HE will show you what to do and when! Find out for yourself what the Word of God says about his heart toward mankind! Find out for yourself! Ask him! Today!! Today is a great day to get started!
“Father today I ask you if this person reading has been stolen from by those who are like crows, I pray you would restore and re-assure them about their Faith, and allow them to see and know that Faith pleases you, it honors you, and those seeds of Faith in your word that have been planted “Must Remain” and be cultivated and watered. I pray for great crops in their lives today Father! and a Very great Outcome (and more testimonies of you!) In Jesus’ name! amen!”
With Love and assurance God is for you, not against you!
Laura Grace, Author, (Grace to Grow) And an advocate for his Mercy (and grace).
Scripture Ref: James 5, Proverbs 26 Matthew 13 & 2nd Cor NKJV
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