Beat the bullies, crush the critics

'I sent messengers…with this reply: 'I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down…' Nehemiah 6:2-3 NIV

Nehemiah teaches us three things to help prepare us for bullies and critics: (1) Expect it. When you're watching a race, where do you focus? On the front runners! 'Criticism is something you can avoid easily: by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.' But those three options don't work for God's kids. Don't stoop to the level of those having a go at you; rise above it. (2) Evaluate it. 'I knew they were scheming to hurt me,' Nehemiah said. When people say, 'I'm going to tell you something for your own good,' often they've nothing good to tell you whatsoever. When you're criticised, ask yourself who criticised you? 'Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.' (Proverbs 27:6 NKJ) Has that person earned the right to speak into your life? (3) Outlive it. Even Nehemiah's mates wanted him to give in and run away to hide but he wouldn't, and he carried on building his wall. When it was finished in super-speedy time, even the bad guys turned round and said that he must have had God's help! (Check out Nehemiah 6 for the whole story.) Sometimes you're in more danger from the advice of your friends than you are from the criticism of your enemies. That's when you must know who you are and what God's called you to do. It's the only way to outlive the criticism!

Soulfood: Job 1-4, Matt 22:23-33, Ps 24, Pr 7:24-25