A Kind Critique / 宽容的指摘
Dexu Xia
A Kind Critique
The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
During a landscape painting class, the teacher, a highly experienced professional artist, assessed my first assignment. He stood silently in front of my painting, one hand cupping his chin. Here we go, I thought. He’s going to say it’s terrible.
But he didn’t.
He said he liked the color scheme and the feeling of openness. Then he mentioned that the trees in the distance could be lightened. A cluster of weeds needed softer edges. He had the authority to criticize my work based on the rules of perspective and color, yet his critique was truthful and kind.
Jesus, who was perfectly qualified to condemn people for their sin, didn’t use the Ten Commandments to crush a Samaritan woman He met at an ancient watering hole. He gently critiqued her life with just a handful of statements. The result was that she saw how her search for satisfaction had led her into sin. Building on this awareness, Jesus revealed Himself as the only source of eternal satisfaction (John 4:10–13).
The combination of grace and truth that Jesus used in this situation is what we experience in our relationship with Him (1:17). His grace prevents us from being overwhelmed by our sin, and His truth prevents us from thinking it isn’t a serious matter.
Will we invite Jesus to show us areas of our lives where we need to grow so we can become more like Him? By Jennifer Benson Schuldt
Reflect & Pray
How is Jesus using grace and truth to point out issues in your life? Where might He want you to make changes to honor Him more fully?
Jesus, thank You for freeing me from the consequences of sin. Help me to embrace Your correction and Your encouragement.
宽容的指摘
律法本是藉着摩西传的，恩典和真理都是由耶稣基督来的。-约翰福音1章17节
教我山水画的老师是一位经验丰富的专业艺术家。当他评估我的第一张习作时，他单手托着下巴，静静地站在我的画作前。我心想，他一定会说，这幅画真是糟透了。
但是，他没有！他说，他喜欢整幅画的配色和空旷的感觉，接着提到远方树木的颜色可以再淡一点，那簇杂草可以画得更柔和一些。他大可依据透视法和色彩学加以批评，但他的评论却是真实又带着宽容。
耶稣绝对有资格批判犯罪的人，但当祂在古井旁遇到那撒马利亚妇人时，却没有引用十诫严厉斥责那妇人，而是用简单的几句话，温和地指出那位妇人生命中的过犯，让那妇人看见自己的错误追寻，使她深陷罪中。当妇人自觉有罪，耶稣就表明祂才是使人恒久满足的泉源（约翰福音4章10-13节）。
耶稣与撒马利亚妇人的谈话，融合了恩典与真理，这也是我们与耶稣建立关系时的亲身经历（1章17节）。祂的恩典使我们不再陷溺罪咎，祂的真理使我们不再轻看罪恶。
但愿我们能谦卑地让耶稣指正，生命中需要成长改进的部分，使我们能更像耶稣！
主耶稣，感谢祢使我不必背负罪债，
当我亲近祢时，求祢帮助我能敞开心，
接受祢的指摘和鼓励。
耶稣如何以恩典和真理指出你的问题？
祂期盼你作何改变，使你更加尊荣祂？