The Father's Menu

The Father's Menu

Apostle Dr. Richard Udoh

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

REMOVE THE POINTING OF THE FINGER

Criticism is easy, but it is not the path God has called us to walk. While there are many things in the world and even within the Church that might draw criticism, our call as believers is to speak words seasoned with hope, faith, and encouragement. The Bible instructs us in Isaiah 58:9 "If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness…" This verse reminds us that God desires a heart free from judgment and a mouth free from harmful words. If we want God's blessing, we must rid ourselves of critical attitudes, accusations, and wicked speech.

Criticizing others, especially those God has placed in leadership, is dangerous. Miriam and Aaron’s example in Numbers 12 illustrates this. When they criticized Moses for his decision to marry an African woman, Miriam was struck with leprosy—a punishment for dishonoring God's chosen servant. Today, this "leprosy" can manifest in other forms, such as broken relationships, spiritual dryness, or personal struggles and many more. Instead of gathering to tear down the Church or its leaders, let us focus on building it up. Criticism often comes from a place of pride or misunderstanding and can hinder us from achieving the very greatness we aspire to. As Ephesians 4:29 says "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."

Choose to honor your fathers, mothers, leaders, and even your subordinates. Use your words to strengthen and uplift rather than to harm and divide. The Church grows when we replace criticism with constructive contributions, prayer, and acts of love. Quit criticizing, start encouraging, and be a vessel of grace in your words and actions.

Confession:

I declare, I refuse to criticize God’s leaders appointed over me. I decree that my words are seasoned with grace, and I put away the accusing finger. I choose to honor and support those God has placed in authority. In doing so, I walk in obedience, and I am blessed. Hallelujah!

Further Reading:

Col 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Num 12:1-4 & 10 “And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it. (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) And the LORD spake suddenly unto Moses, and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous.”

Read through the bible in 1 year: Genesis 16:1-18:15 Matthew 6:1-24 Psalm 7:1-17 Proverbs 2:1-5

Read through the bible in 2 years: Isa 65.1-16 & Pr 31.10-31