Dave and his wife Sue were asked about the delicate art of constructive criticism. Sue said, "I think Christ's example in John 1:14 is helpful. That verse describes Jesus as being 'full of grace and truth.' I see a mother with her child. If the child has a dirty face, the mother doesn't scold her for having a dirty face. She does the loving thing. She gets out the washcloth, and as she is gently applying soap and water she may say, 'My, what a dirty face you have! Tell me how you got your face so dirty.' But all the time she is washing her child's face. If I'm going to be honest with Dave, I need to be sure that I'm acting in loving, gracious ways—in a sense, getting out the washcloth—even while I'm talking about the dirt."

In Galatians 6:1, Paul also reflected a gentle and gracious attitude, showing us how we are to treat all people. When confronting others about their sin, let's remember how gentle Christ is in showing us our own sins. Although we grieve Him when we fall, He is never bitter. He holds us accountable, yet supports us with His love. His convicting is kind and persistent, yet He is always quick to forgive.

When it's necessary to criticize, let's treat others the way Jesus treats us.  —DJD  — Dennis J. De Haan