Earlier this year, I received criticism that, in essence, God’s Word is too much a part of my life. When I heard that said, my heart literally ached. My feelings weren’t hurt, and I wasn’t offended. Rather my heart was deeply grieved.
You see, the underlying tone of the criticism from this sibling in Christ was that he or she mistakenly felt that I thought I had arrived spiritually or that I was “holier than thou”. Oh how my heart ached that their misunderstanding and inaccurate estimation of me could be a stumbling block.
Arriving spiritually or being holier? Nothing could be further than the truth. He keeps me close to His Truth. He lovingly and graciously holds the mirror of His truth up to my face daily in His Word.
Yes, I delight in God’s Word.
I love His Word.
I believe His Word is truth and life.
I share His Word.
I speak His Word.
I teach His Word to my children.
I am compelled by His Word.
Why?
His Word is truth and life.
His Word convicts me.
His Word breaks me. “Every time we open the Word of God, it should be for the purpose of brokenness.” ~ Nancy Leigh DeMoss
His Word faithfully, and often painfully, unearths the wretchedness of my own heart so He can lovingly refine and restore me.
His Word grows me.
His Word comforts me.
His Word encourages me.
His Word changes me.
Have I arrived? Hardly. Yet, “The Way, The Truth and The Life” leads me on this journey with Himself, the Word made flesh.
Am I “holier than thou”? Oh please…that’s laughable! (Ask my family and friends!) I am on my face, bowed down before the Holy One, aware of His perfect holiness and silenced by His mercy and grace which cover my sin. With reverence and awe for Him, I am ever mindful that I am a sinner saved by His grace.
If His Word is too much a part of my life, it is because I am aware of my great need for Him and humbled by His great love for me, for all of us. I need to be steeped in His Word. If I share His Word, it is because I know it is Truth and Life for everyone who receives it. Psalm 138:2 says, “You have exalted above all things Your Name and Your Word.” I believe that if we live in reverence for His Name and His Word and exalt them above all things, our lives will be in order, we will be made holy by Him and we will arrive at our destination holding His hand.
If someone again criticizes me that God’s Word is too much a part of my life, I humbly hope I am always guilty of that assessment.
I am delighted. That’s all. Simply delighted.
Jeremiah 9:24
"I can't make you angry; I can touch your insecure places and you create anger yourself." This quote by Cecil Murphey resonates in my soul. You see the person that criticized you probably really isn't bothered that you delight in the Lord. No, she is bothered by the insecure place in herself that you touched.
May God heal that place in her, and may you continue to be delighted!
Matthew 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Isn't that the truth. If I am in the Word so much, it is because I acknowledge my great need and dependency on Him.
Similar thing happened to me in our home group. I was sharing how I had become utterly self-centered and ugly b/c I had not been in the Word for two weeks. Seems others had not been in the Word all summer & I realized I had offended them.
Oh, that we might cleave to Him….just as you are constantly cleaving. Thanks for sharing. Blessings ~ jen
I have been there. I have even been called "perfect" before. How humbling that was, for my life is far from perfect. I am certainly not perfect.
I am a constant work in progress. It breaks my heart when people say that it is too hard to live the way I choose, in Christ.
I loved your closing scripture! Amen, sista!! What a fabulous way to be criticized, because you aren't prideful at all (based on my experience with getting to know you on blogger and in person recently!). Love you!