On the Way

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
~ Psalm 84:5

Monday, January 11, 2010

growing wise from rebukes

 7 "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
       whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
 8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
       rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
 9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
       teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
 10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
       and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
~ Proverbs 9:7-10

5 Better is open rebuke
       than hidden love.
 6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted,
       but an enemy multiplies kisses.
~ Proverbs 27:5-6

 5 It is better to heed a wise man's rebuke
       than to listen to the song of fools.
~ Ecclesiastes 7:5

Few people enjoy confrontation.  But growth can often come from heeding the 'rebukes' of a godly friend in one's life.  In my own life, this has come a number of times over the years. It is rarely pleasant at first but I've grown to see this as one of God's means of grace in order for me to 'grow up' in Christ as Paul discusses in Ephesians and elsewhere.  One of the functions of Scripture is 'rebuking' as Paul tells Timothy in his second epistle to that  young servant of God:


16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work
~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

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