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CRITICS AND CHEERLEADERS
'Love one another the way I loved you' John 15:12
When Jesus says, 'Love one another', the word He uses means 'to nurture'. Think of a mother and her child. He's saying that we should love one another like that - treating each other gently, affectionately, and always seeking the best for each other.
You might think of someone in your church or youth group and think the kind of love they need most is tough love. But beneath the mask, we all desperately need to be nurtured. God gives us the church, youth groups, and friends so we can nurture and be nurtured.
The story is told of a little girl who came home from church one Sunday and announced, 'I want to be like the man who stood up in the pulpit today.' Delighted, her mum said, 'That's lovely. So you want to go into the ministry?' 'No,' she replied, 'I want to tell people what to do!'
Some of us want to be authority figures so we can correct people and give them our so-called 'constructive criticism.' But most people don't need a critic, they need a cheerleader. When you nurture people they will welcome you to speak into their life-and they will listen.
What now? Paul writes, 'Encourage each other and build each other up' (1 Thes. 5:11 NLT). Get on the phone, compose an email, or write a letter with nurturing words for someone today.
written by Bob Gass
'Love one another the way I loved you' John 15:12
When Jesus says, 'Love one another', the word He uses means 'to nurture'. Think of a mother and her child. He's saying that we should love one another like that - treating each other gently, affectionately, and always seeking the best for each other.
You might think of someone in your church or youth group and think the kind of love they need most is tough love. But beneath the mask, we all desperately need to be nurtured. God gives us the church, youth groups, and friends so we can nurture and be nurtured.
The story is told of a little girl who came home from church one Sunday and announced, 'I want to be like the man who stood up in the pulpit today.' Delighted, her mum said, 'That's lovely. So you want to go into the ministry?' 'No,' she replied, 'I want to tell people what to do!'
Some of us want to be authority figures so we can correct people and give them our so-called 'constructive criticism.' But most people don't need a critic, they need a cheerleader. When you nurture people they will welcome you to speak into their life-and they will listen.
What now? Paul writes, 'Encourage each other and build each other up' (1 Thes. 5:11 NLT). Get on the phone, compose an email, or write a letter with nurturing words for someone today.
written by Bob Gass
