The reproof of the Lord

Proverbs 3:11-12

“My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.”

The apostle Peter is an excellent example of the Lord's discipline, do you recall Jesus telling the disciples about His death and resurrection, and the following is Matthew’s gospel account.  Do you remember the first time Jesus told His disciples about how He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised?  Matthew 16:22-23 gives this account; “And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord!  This shall never happen to you.”  But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!  You are a hindrance to me.  For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

What a teachable moment for Peter, and for you and me, Jesus is making it clear to Peter and us that God has given us the authority to set our mind on whatever we choose.  Peter, much like me and maybe you, often set his mind on what Peter wanted and not on what the Spirit wanted.

Proverbs 3:13-18

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.  She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her, those who hold her fast are called blessed.”

At this point you may be asking how does one find wisdom?  It begins with a search for truth, do you recall Jesus’ conversation with Pilate in John 18:37-38?  “Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?  Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king.  For this purpose, I was born, and for this purpose, I have come into the world – to bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”  Do you recall what Pilate said in verse 38a, “Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”  And today many in power as was Pilate, are as big a fool as he was.  Truth can only be found in God’s word for Proverbs 1:7 tells us that it is the fear of the Lord that opens the door to knowledge, to use knowledge it requires wisdom.

Let me share this testimony from my own experiences, as a very young person my parents taught us that the borrower would be a slave to the lender.  Long before I ask Jesus into my life, I set my mind on this and made a decision not to borrow money.  When Jan and I got married, we were both Baptist, but neither of us had asked Jesus into our lives.  We agreed not to borrow and to only buy what we could pay back in 30 days without interest.  I believe that was wise, but where did it come from; the Scriptures?  After we came to have a personal relationship with Christ we began to understand more truths that God has instructed us about what He had given us and it has served us well, and we are blessed.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice