Hey, everyone! It has been
so long since my last post. Many times in my spiritual life, when I find that
I'm not spending as much time deeply studying God's Word, it's because I'm in a
dry spell or feeling distant from my Father. However, the past couple of
months, I've felt that God has blessed me with a time of peace and rest. Though
I haven't been spending as much time as I'd like in prayer and scripture, I've
also been feeling much less anxious and frustrated with my spiritual life than
before. I did, however, feel myself drifting from the closeness I so
desperately want with my Daddy God, I think mostly due to the fact that I just
don't have a place to go to church regularly. Church is a difficult thing for
me right now, simply because I don't have a "home church" in
Arlington since my family left Pantego, and I don't yet feel "at
home" at a church in Waco. I so miss the sweet times of worship, study,
and fellowship that being a member of a close-knit church family brings.
Nothing in the world can compare to the encouragement and love of a church
family. One thing about being an active member of the Body of Christ that
many people struggle with, though, (including myself) is the concept of
correction or instruction. I believe that the way we receive correction or
admonition from our brothers and sisters in Christ quickly displays whether or
not we are wise people. The passage that the Lord brought to me tonight is
Proverbs 9:7-9, which says,
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning."
The question this passage brings to mind for me is, "How do you respond to correction?" In this verse, the writer says that rebuking a foolish man will only make him hate you, while rebuking a wise man will make him love you. When we, even as Christians, are not full of the Spirit, we do not respond to criticism with grace and humility. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him..." The words that come from the Spirit are taken as gibberish if we do not use the discernment and wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit to receive them. But how does our response to correction display wisdom or foolishness? Proverbs 9:10 says,
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
A wise man is someone who understands, as much as a man can, the power and righteousness and sovereignty of God. A wise man knows the Lord and knows himself - he is privy to his own weakness and need for the salvation of the Lord. He accepts his position as a sinner, and as a result, is open to correction that comes from his fellow believers and, ultimately, the Holy Spirit. A wise man is someone who is humble. On the other hand, foolishness is often accompanied by great pride and self-love. When someone "attacks" the heart or actions of a foolish man, even in love, the man will become defensive and hateful as a result of his own pride. When we recognize who we are and who God is, we are able to receive loving criticism from others with a humble and grateful heart. When we refuse to see God as He is and elevate ourselves to a position of prideful self-love, we receive criticism as a personal attack. Our reaction to others' loving guidance quickly and easily displays the state of our hearts.
So, how do you respond to criticism? Do you shut down and become defensive, or do you accept it humbly and graciously? As much as I hate to admit it, I don't handle constructive criticism or being "called out" well, even by those I love and trust most. My first instinct is to become harsh and defensive, and to allow my pride to cloud my heart's vision. Even when my mind can clearly see that my friend is right, my pride and foolishness won't allow me to humble myself and to be receptive to their words. What I need more of us the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:12 says, "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God..." When we are in relationship with the Lord and are full of the Holy Spirit, we are able to understand and accept loving admonition. When we are full of self-love and pride, we will reject the words of the Spirit every time. Humble, or prideful? Wise, or foolish? We have been freely given the choice. Praise God!
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning."
The question this passage brings to mind for me is, "How do you respond to correction?" In this verse, the writer says that rebuking a foolish man will only make him hate you, while rebuking a wise man will make him love you. When we, even as Christians, are not full of the Spirit, we do not respond to criticism with grace and humility. 1 Corinthians 2:14 says, "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him..." The words that come from the Spirit are taken as gibberish if we do not use the discernment and wisdom given to us by the Holy Spirit to receive them. But how does our response to correction display wisdom or foolishness? Proverbs 9:10 says,
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."
A wise man is someone who understands, as much as a man can, the power and righteousness and sovereignty of God. A wise man knows the Lord and knows himself - he is privy to his own weakness and need for the salvation of the Lord. He accepts his position as a sinner, and as a result, is open to correction that comes from his fellow believers and, ultimately, the Holy Spirit. A wise man is someone who is humble. On the other hand, foolishness is often accompanied by great pride and self-love. When someone "attacks" the heart or actions of a foolish man, even in love, the man will become defensive and hateful as a result of his own pride. When we recognize who we are and who God is, we are able to receive loving criticism from others with a humble and grateful heart. When we refuse to see God as He is and elevate ourselves to a position of prideful self-love, we receive criticism as a personal attack. Our reaction to others' loving guidance quickly and easily displays the state of our hearts.
So, how do you respond to criticism? Do you shut down and become defensive, or do you accept it humbly and graciously? As much as I hate to admit it, I don't handle constructive criticism or being "called out" well, even by those I love and trust most. My first instinct is to become harsh and defensive, and to allow my pride to cloud my heart's vision. Even when my mind can clearly see that my friend is right, my pride and foolishness won't allow me to humble myself and to be receptive to their words. What I need more of us the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:12 says, "We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God..." When we are in relationship with the Lord and are full of the Holy Spirit, we are able to understand and accept loving admonition. When we are full of self-love and pride, we will reject the words of the Spirit every time. Humble, or prideful? Wise, or foolish? We have been freely given the choice. Praise God!
