Proverbs 16:21
The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.
If we want people to listen and receive what we are saying, the way we deliver it matters! When we come at people pridefully or angrily, we shut them down and turn them off. When we come to demoralize them while exalting ourselves, what we are truly doing is the devil’s work, for pride is not a characteristic of Christ but one the enemy relish’s in. Think about how Christ instructed those He taught; His words were full of love, grace, mercy, truth, and power. He never sacrificed truth for love, nor love for truth, but was a perfect balance of both, and we must follow in His footsteps. Lord, please help us!
Christ knew the weakness of the human heart and how it is hard for us to receive a harsh word, but a pleasing and uplifting word can penetrate even the hardest heart. Yes, there were times when Christ was a bit more forceful in what He taught/preached, but make no mistake, it was because they didn’t respond to the gracious words He spoke or the love and truth that He shared. They refused to listen to Him when He spoke graciously, so in His love for them, He had to change His tone.
I’m thankful that our God is not afraid to hurt our feelings if it means saving our souls. I, like the Pharisees, didn’t listen to the gracious words of God, and instead needed the rod of reprimand. Each of us is different, and each of us has a choice; Christ taught/preached/spoke/lived graciously; will we?
1 John 2:6- Whoever claims to live in Him must live as Jesus did.
God bless! I love you all, but His love is here to help us in this and in every area of our lives! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!
Proverbs 16:26
The appetite of laborers works for them; their hunger drives them on.
The question then becomes, what are we hungry for? If we hunger and thirst for righteousness, then we shall be filled, and we shall grow closer to the Lord. But if we hunger for sin and depravity, we will find ourselves empty and alone.
I have, at different times in my life, lived both of these truths. There was a time when my hunger for sin and self drove me to great lengths to fulfill those desires. It took me deeper than I ever thought possible, buried in shame, guilt, and sin. But glory to God, who delivered me out of my sin and from myself. He gave me a new heart with new desires. I no longer crave and chase those sins of the past, but today, by the grace of God, I crave more of Him. He is the Sustainer of my soul, the Defender of my heart, the Redeemer of my life, the Satisfier of every good desire, and the Protector of the flock. He is my God, my Savior, my King, and my friend.
It’s amazing to me that the Lord would want to save me and then want me to know Him and be known by Him. That He would allow someone like me to sit at His table is beyond understanding and worthy of all praise! So the hunger that drives me today is not one built or grown by this world but by the One who stretched out His hands to save it. What are you craving today? Things of this world or of the Spirit? If it’s the world, ask the Lord to change your desires today and be ready for the time of your life!
Jeremiah 24:7- “I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.”
I love how this is verse 24:7- cause we need this truth 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! God bless! I love you all, but His love changes the cravings of the wicked into a craving He will fulfill! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!
No comments:
Post a Comment