Respond with love
Monday, Nov 15
Respond with love
Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy. Proverbs 27:6
The book of Proverbs contains hundreds of God-inspired sayings which are gathered together in this most amazing of books. In every season of life, I appreciate it’s 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 within.
The verse I have chosen for today is one of those personal challenges. A challenge 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. In the end all I could think of is the words written in Esther 4:14 “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
The natural response is to rise up and defend self, but the spirit response is to cry out as it is written in Psalm 51 verses 1 and 2 – “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Repentance doesn’t always come easily – but if it doesn’t come at all we run the danger of being trapped in an ever tightening circle of un forgiveness and sin. The message of correction is healing to the believer.
Prayer for today: Thank You, Lord for showing me through this Scripture that wounds of correction can be messages of love and healing. I bring to You all my wounds. Help me, Lord, to allow You to heal what is broken. Amen