OUR DAILY BREAD : FAULTFINDERS ANONYMOUS

[cimi]

FRIDAY AUGUST 7



READ:
Philippians 1:9
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And this I pray,
that your love may
abound still more
and more.
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Like many people, when I read a newspaper or magazine I notice the misteaks in grammar and spelling. (You saw that, didn't you!) I'm not trying to find errors; they leap off the page at me! My usual reaction is to criticize the publication and the people who produce it. "Why don't they use 'spell check' or hire a proofreader?"

You may have a similar experience in your area of expertise. It seems that often, the more we know about something, the more judgmental we become over mistakes. It can infect our relationships with people as well.

Yet Phillippians 1:9 expresses a different approach. Paul wrote, "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment." God's plan is that the more we know and understand, the more we love. Rather than cultivating a critical spirit and pretending we don't notice or don't care, our understanding should nourish empathy. Criticism is replaced by compassion.

Instead of our being faultfinders, the Lord calls us to be "filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God" (v. 11).

When the Lord fills our hearts, we can overlook mistakes, hold our criticism, and love others, no matter how much we know about them! ___David McCasland

**Lord, by Your grace please replace my critical spirit with
Your love and compassion for others.
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To err is human; to forgive, divine. ____Alexander Pope

***************************************Today's Bible Reading Phillippians 1:1-11**********************************
1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, to all
the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always
in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,

5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now,

6 being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a
good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have
you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the
defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers
with me of grace. 8 For God is my witness, how greatly I long
for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more
and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may
approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere
and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with
the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the
glory and praise of God.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Notice the depth of love Paul has for his fellow
believers at Philippi. This is seen in how he speaks to them and
what he desires for them. He speaks as one who loves them and
longs for them deeply (v.8). His desires are seen in his prayers__that
they will experience a growing yet wise love (v.9), a discerning yet
genuine spirit (v.10), and a fruitful and Christ-honoring life (v.11).
These are great things we too can pray for in the lives of those we
love and in our own lives as well. __Bill Crowder