Daily Thought for Thursday, October 6th

October 6, 2011

Accepting Correction, Reproof and Instruction

Today’s Thought:

“No pain, no palm: no thorns, no throne, no gall, no glory, no cross, no crown.”  – William Penn

Today’s Quote:

“He knows enough who knows how to learn.”  – Henry Adams

Today’s Question:

Did you know that; “If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work on brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples, they will crumble to dust: but if we work on men’s immortal minds, if we impress on them high principles, the just fear of God, and love for their fellowmen, we engrave on those tablets something which no time can efface and which will brighten all eternity?” – Daniel Webster

Today’s Bible Verses:            Proverbs 9:8-9 & 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Today’s Spiritual Thought:

“The sturdiest tree is not found in the shelter of the forest but high upon some rocky crag, where its daily battle with the elements shapes it into a thing of beauty."  –  Anonymous

Few children and even fewer adults enjoy correction and reproof.  No one really likes to have his or her failings, weaknesses, wrongs or mistakes pointed out.  And often especially teenagers and often adults feel we don’t’ need someone to tell us how to do things: we think we already know what needs to be done and how to go about doing it.

This is true both naturally and spiritually for a lot of folks.  Maybe even more so spiritually than we often like to openly admit.

We need to come to the realization as Christians that there will always be things we need to learn.  We need to also understand God puts other, often more mature, wiser and more experienced Christians in our lives to help guide, teach and instruct us in the things of His kingdom that we might grow in His righteousness.  Don’t forget, Timothy had Paul and the disciples had Jesus.  Some of the things Jesus said to the disciples were tough to hear and hard to take but it was for the benefit and good of each of their spiritual growth.

If we want to be all that God desires us to be we need to be open and willing to embrace not only those words of praise and approval when we do something good or right: we need to embrace reproof, correction and instruction.

So maybe next time the pastor preachers a sermon that steps on our toes or makes us squirm: rather than becoming indignit and antagonistic towards the messenger: we can embrace the message and allow it to effectively work on our lives to help correct and allow for growth in our spiritual walk.

Today’s Prayer:

Father, whether I want it or not: and whether I like it or not: may I always allow your word and the messengers of your word to guide, instruct, teach and train me so that I can become all that you want me to be.