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Answering Our Critics

by Shannon Heiden  
5/30/2011 / Devotionals

Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, He is out of his mind. ( Mark 3:20-21 NIV)

Beautiful One, have you ever faced opposition? Not just any opposition, but the unexpected kind from an unlikely source? How many times have people in your personal circle opposed you because they thought your decisions were wrong?

These are viable questions, and ones that we, as followers of Jesus, will have to face at some point in our lives. What do you do when a close friend or family opposes you? Oftentimes, when we answer our critics, we engage in discussions and defenses that easily lead to hostile relationships. These reactions are usually responsible for such things like church splits, job losses, broken relationships and severed family ties.

I experienced a situation once where someone questioned a choice I had made. Because they were looking at appearances only, and not understanding my heart, they didn't like what I had done. Maybe to them my choice didnt make any sense. But, just because they felt differently about it did not make my choice any less right.

Beautiful One, opposing views are going to have a voice in your life. Young and old, male or female, we will all encounter opposition - and some of it is going to be from the least expected people such as fellow church-going siblings and (the harshest critics of all) family members.

Jesus was about his Father's business, doing things people had never seen or heard of before. He boggled their minds. Even Jesus' own family members thought He had lost his mind.

But why?

Because Jesus was doing something they wouldnt have done, and it was foreign to them. They had unknowingly put God in a box, and when Jesus climbed out of it, they didnt know what to do!

How many times have we looked at anothers situation, and thought we had an edge on the holiness corner? How many times have we been guilty of looking at outward appearances of others, without understanding that full truth, or choosing to think that their heart may still be right?

Jesus' family didnt understand that God was doing a new thing, and that He was going to use a new method for the same message. Each one of us is unique and created equal. Yet, God deals with all of us differently. God's path for me will look different than His path for you.

But as long as each of us stays closely connected to the One -- the One who paved the road before us -- we will land on our feet. Despite the opposition and despite the critics, we must keep doing what Jesus did when he faced opposition: He stayed the course; He ran his race, and in his lane. Most importantly, He answered his critics not in word, but in deed.

And He finished his race.

Beautiful One, Just believe, and walk on!

Shannon Heiden
[email protected]
changingonelifereachingmany.typepad.com

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