Posted on 04/12/2020 5:48:49 AM PDT by Pilgrim's Progress
“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish” (Proverbs 12:1).
There is a thread that goes all the way through of the book of Proverbs, talking about instruction, and you just can't get around it. If you come to a Bible believing church, or for that matter, if you just open your Bible and read it; you're going to get a balling out. It's just unavoidable. you're a sinner, and you're foolish, and left to yourself you are brutish, and you are fleshy. If you spend much time with the Holy Spirit with the word of God around Jesus Christ, you are going to get a reaming out. It's just the way it is, because we are none of what we should be. Truth be told, we are all as dumb as a stump, and stubborn. There is a reason that the Bible compares us with sheep. Sheep are dumb. So, to spend much time with the Lord is going to require you to become used to getting a good tongue-lashing through the conviction of the Spirit. This is probably the main reason that so many that proclaim the name of the Saviour refuse to read their Bibles, as they just don’t want to know the truth about themselves.
“He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth” (Proverbs 10:17).
What keeps happening over and over again, and they go hand-in-hand is instruction and reproof.
“A fool despiseth his father's instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent” (Proverbs 15:5).
“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility” (Proverbs 15:31-33).
Instruction is so intimately intertwined with reproof, that it is impossible to separate them. That's why worldly folks are just not interested with Bible preaching churches anymore. This is the reason why the mega church movement is so popular, because nobody gets reproved for their sins. They get 45 minutes of a “Christian” rock band, a little coffee afterwards with cake and cookies, and a ten-minute sermon, then everybody is back off to the world. Nobody is going to disturb what you do at the casino on Friday night or anything else.
“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish”
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This is so true in my life. When my boss points out any errors in some report I’m writing, my first instinct is to lash back. However, after much prayer I realize the correction is needed and I make the necessary corrections.
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