“Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold
is a wise reprover to a listening ear.”
– Proverbs 25:12

Nobody really enjoys being told they’re on the wrong path. We don’t generally like to hear that we’re badly mistaken in our words or behaviors. Nonetheless, our most precious friends in the Lord will tell us exactly that when we are. Biblical reproof – the correction of wrong words or actions through the application of Scripture is quite rare in our culture.

When reproved, most of us naturally respond defensively (unless we respond offensively). When we do, we miss out on genuine treasure. Instead of defending ourselves or attacking our reprover if we actually listened to what he or she said and considered the possibility they were correct, we might learn something incredibly valuable! We might see something to which we had previously been blind. We might open a door in our heart to change and transformation.

How do you view the loving (if painful) correction of a brother or sister in Christ? As an attack? As an insult? As a waste of time? As a distraction? Or do you consider it a treasure worth listening to, meditating upon, and searching Scripture about? If your reprover is indeed wise, then what they say may be the most precious gift you’ve received for a long time.

Seek to become a person who listens for and to valid reproof. Seek out friends who will provide the loving and wise reproof we all need from time to time. Treat their words like the treasure they are and give thanks to God for using them to transform you.

“Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking him as they beat him.” – Luke 22:63

There are a lot of people in the world, including many Christians, who get very, very upset when they feel disrespected. They become indignant or even violent in demanding their rights or the respect they think they’re due. That’s a perfectly natural reaction. And yet…

This verse reveals our Lord, our Savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God being beaten and humiliated. Jesus didn’t become angry, indignant, demanding, or vengeful. He didn’t call down an army of angels on His behalf. He didn’t work a miracle to end His pain and shame. He quietly accepted that humiliation on our behalf. He quietly accepted that suffering and embarrassment so we wouldn’t have to, though we actually deserve it.

As Christians, we’re called, commanded, and expected to do the same. Exactly the same. In exactly the same way. There’s a greater strength required to do what Jesus did than to strut about crowing, complaining, posturing, and picking a fight because someone has treated us like trash. To act like Jesus when it goes against every fiber of your natural being requires the supernatural strength of the Holy Spirit at work within you. Work and pray to develop that Christ-like character that can absorb the scorn of the world with complete confidence rooted in God’s overflowing, unconditional love and acceptance of you as His child.

“Do not toil to acquire wealth;
be discerning enough to desist.
When your eyes light on it, it is gone,
for suddenly it sprouts wings,
flying like an eagle toward heaven.”
– Proverbs 23:4-5

Money can certainly be a good thing. Whatever we have is a blessing from God and a stewardship for us to manage on His behalf. We’re responsible for using all that we have well, responsibly, and for the glory of God and the advancement of His Kingdom. Money is generally necessary to fulfill our biblical responsibilities to those in our care. However, when money becomes the major focus of our time, thought, energy, and effort we have a major problem!

The Bible doesn’t say that money is evil or that we shouldn’t have money. But if we’re toiling to pile up wealth – working, sweating, and scheming to get more and more money – we have a major problem with our priorities. See, money isn’t eternal. God gives it and He can take it away. Money certainly won’t be meaningful to us after our death. Therefore, while we’re to work, spend, and save responsibly we must pour our lives into what’s eternal.

We must devote our energy and effort to making disciples. To teaching and nurturing those souls in our sphere of influence. To sharing our faith with those who don’t know Jesus. To loving God and loving neighbor. Take a step back and look at how you spend your time and energy. What do you spend the best part of your time thinking about?

If you’re constantly thinking about money and how to get more of it or if you’re working so many hours most weeks that you’re neglecting your family, compromising your spiritual life, and have no time left to pour into others, “be discerning enough to desist.”

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:31-32

Note carefully the dynamic Jesus describes in these verses. Satan demanded to test the followers of Jesus. God permitted it. Jesus prayed for Peter’s faith to withstand the test and prepared him for life on the other side of the test. It’s both fascinating and insightful!

God is completely sovereign and has all power. However, He permits His people to be tested by Satan to demonstrate and strengthen their faith. God is all good and doesn’t tempt anyone, but in His sovereign power and wisdom, He recognizes that what Satan intends for evil can actually turn out for the good. Therefore, God permits His people to be tested. Is their faith authentic? They’ll only know AFTER being tested. Can their faith withstand the terrible blows of the Evil One? They’ll only know AFTER being tested. So God permits the testing, knowing that for those who truly are His people, the testing will strengthen and solidify their faith, unlocking confidence and power to serve His Kingdom with greater impact.

God allows Satan to make Peter so afraid he denies even knowing Jesus. Jesus doesn’t intervene to prevent that test. He knows it’s coming and He knows that Peter will fail the test in the near term. Rather than prevent the test, Jesus prays for Peter’s faith. He prays that even after humiliating and heartbreaking failure, Peter won’t retreat from his faith but grow in it. So Jesus prays for Peter’s faith and tells him that once he’s repented of his failure and been strengthened by painful testing, he is to lead and encourage other believers.

While it would be very pleasant if your faith was never tested, that isn’t actually the best thing for you or your faith. Expect that Satan will test your faith. Expect that he’ll sow doubt in your mind and confusion in your life. Expect that he’ll traffic in fear or pain to try and get you to reject your Lord. Know that during that testing, Jesus is praying for you. He is with you. He is in you. Know too, that on the other side of the test, once you have passed, Jesus has prepared important and encouraging work for you to do. Expect the test. Endure the test in Christ. Pass the test for Him!

“He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness.” – Hebrews 5:2

In this verse, the writer of Hebrews speaks of the ability of a human high priest to care for, nurture, gently admonish, guide, help, and direct people in their foolishness, ignorance, and sin because he too experiences the weaknesses, indignities, embarrassments, and temptations of life. The point he’s making is how much more and better will Jesus deal with each of us as our Great High Priest!!!

Jesus truly is our Great High Priest. He intercedes on our behalf with God the Father. However, but He isn’t some distant, unconcerned, abstract power. Jesus took on a human body and human nature so He could fully understand us from firsthand experiences. At times, He was hot, cold, hungry, thirsty, and tired. During His life, He was tempted powerfully and relentlessly. He experienced the temptations that come from deprivation and the temptations that come from fame, success, and popularity. He experienced the temptations that come from loneliness, from suffering, and from betrayal. He experienced the temptations to speed things up and the temptations to run from His destiny.

Jesus understands all the trials, temptations, indignities, struggles, aches, and pains you’re going through. Because He understands, He’ll always deal gently with you when you mess up, when you go astray, when you act in foolish ignorance, when you find yourself in a place you never should have gotten.

Jesus will certainly be firm about what He expects of you, but He’ll also be tender, loving, and kind in that firmness. Jesus understands what you’re going through. He understands how you got to wherever you got. He isn’t going to reject you simply for being there. He’s always ready to guide you out of that place and onto the path of truly following Him. You’ll never be too far gone for His kind love, care, and willingness to hear your confession while offering gentle forgiveness and correction. Never let shame, guilt, pride, or stubbornness keep you from seeking the gentle correction of Jesus!