Welcome to Day 9 of the Proverbs Challenge, and if you have been joining in with this challenge up until now, you will realise that that means, today, we are reading Chapter 9!
The couplet that spoke to me this morning was:
“Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”
Proverbs 9:7-10
My thoughts: Am I a mocker or a wise person? How do I respond to criticism? Do I put down, or come back with a ”smart answer” when rebuked? Or do I listen to what is being said?
I love to ask questions. I always teach to ask ”why?” – Why do we think, or feel a certain way? Why do we respond in a certain manner? Because, when we ask why, the Holy Spirit can guide us into God’s truths
This couplet from Proverbs 9 has made me realise how far I have come. I was the person who always wanted the last word, and who never wanted to come across as weak, or feel like I was wrong. Therefore, I would ”tear people apart” with my words, thoughts, and feelings. If I felt terrible, I would make sure that the other individual felt worse!
Yet, God then revealed my brokenness, but from this, I have found freedom, over time, to see not only myself as a child of God but others, as God created them to be. Therefore, I can now learn from others, because I no longer feel threatened by their identities, as I am not walking from a place of rejection
My reflection: We need to learn from others because this is one path to wisdom. We are created to love God and love each other. Therefore, we each bring a different revelation from life
Wisdom also begins with knowing God because He gives insight into living because He created life! Therefore, to know God means that we just don’t want to know facts about Him, but we stand in awe and have a personal relationship with Him
What did God show you within Proverbs 9?
Categories: Proverbs Challenge
