I write this devotional out of complete love and to be honest I tried to talk myself out of it, but the Holy Spirit reminded me that I am called to write what I am led to write, not what I want to write. So, I don't have a choice in this matter.

Unfortunately some people are equipped with a super-hero liked vision that enables them to see the negative even in what appears to be pefection. I have studied and read a lot of Dale Carnegie's writings and he said, "Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain and most of them do." I have read through the entire New Testament multiple times and studied the "Fruit of the Spirit" in great detail and even taken time to write an entire small group series and preach on each fruit and I can tell you that criticism is not one of the gifts of the Spirit.

In the Book of Luke Jesus gives us a stern warning that indicts those who would be judgmental and critical of others that are around them. Next time you start to say, "Hey, there's something in you eye", stop and ask God to hold your gongue while you look for your own log. Next time you start to accuse someone of not doing something or not being somewhere, stop tearing down and criticicizing and ask yourself, "hey, where am I at?" Many times we are too prideful to see our own ways. Are you willing to do a spiritual check-up of your own life?

Jesus says in Luke 6:41-42, "Why are you staring at the mote in your brother's eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye."

Disclaimer: Pastor Shane's devotions are written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God and are never intended to be directed toward any one individual or group or any particular situation. These daily devotions are sent to thousands of subscribers through different mediums and is intended to proclaim truths from the Word of God. Thank you for taking the time to read and please continue to pray for wisdom as Pastor Shane's heart is to write in a spirit of love and to bring life application for every day living to those who are reading. ~Blessings!