I Need You
Wednesday, June 2
I Need You
Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Proverbs 27:6
I am at a stage in my life where I crave the wisdom of God and so I’ve been reading a lot lately in the book of Proverbs. In this book there’s hundreds of God-inspired sayings which are gathered together in this most amazing of books, reflecting every arena of life – from birth to death and all the experiences we can have between these two extremes. I love the down to earth practicality, direct honesty, no compromise and wonderful promises which are scattered throughout all thirty-one chapters, together with the many personal challenges which are embedded therein. There is no mistake in what God is saying in this book. Consider the verse for today “faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” – such a powerful and humbling verse!
In my adult life I have come to despise corrections (please pray for me!). Why? Because often it is not coming from a place where the individual is trying to help me grow, but a place where my flaws are being put on display to be used as evidence in a case with no jury. However, being correct is not entirely a bad thing. It is a vital part of personal growth. How can one get better if they are not guided? This is where Proverbs 27:6 comes in.
The verse I have chosen for today is one of those personal challenges. A challenge that I have had to respond to personally on more than one occasion, when someone I loved and trusted had the courage to speak into my life with words of correction. I have to confess that my first reaction wasn’t always warm and welcoming. The carnal nature wanted to rise up and defend myself – even when I knew in my heart that what I was doing wasn’t defendable and I should accept the correction. I felt the wound in my heart and the pain of having to make adjustments. And I wanted to hide away and lick my wounds and try and justify myself! But then I considered who was delivering the message and immediately my eyes were open to my wrong doing and God’s guidance.
Repentance doesn’t always come easily. Repentance is the doorway to forgiveness and healing.
Sometimes, like me, it takes a while for us to realize how much love had gone into the words of correction, even though they had been hard to receive. This is why we need each other. Love sometimes, has to be tough in order to reap its reward. Looking back now, I am so, so, grateful for those times when necessary correction proved to be more loving than the hurtful wounds of an enemy. The wounds became opportunities for healing and restoration.
Prayer for today: Heavenly Father, thank You Lord for showing me through Your Word that wounds of correction can be a message from You for correction and healing. Help me to respond with humility whenever You bring corrections into my life. Amen.
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