There is benefit in hearing what the opposition has to say. An enemy will tell you things your friends might not—sometimes the very thing needed; perhaps an embarrassing detail or maybe a missing key for breakthrough.

Behavior and attitudes change and we may not be aware of wrong patterns that develop unless those are brought to our attention; the person least likely to offer anything good may just be the best attention-bringer for the situation. All criticism contains some element of truth.

Satan is both accuser and adversary and we are to steadfastly resist him—absolutely; but in another place we are warned to “agree with your adversary.” Proverbs tells us “a friend sharpens the countenance of a friend” and ideally that’s true, but when was the last time a friend was the sharpening iron able to get you to hear the thing you absolutely refuse to hear about yourself?

We can be thick-headed—slow to really get it (if you know what I mean)! Recurring patterns are both cause and effect which, undetected, continue in circles while we haven’t a clue why breakthrough is delayed. What a man sows he will also reap.

Amen.

1 Peter 5:8 Matthew 5:25 Proverbs 27:17
Galatians 6:7