February 10, 2023
"He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, but he who ignores reproof goes astray." (Proverbs 10:17)
All of life is a classroom. God’s creation, Word, Spirit, and people (the church) are constantly speaking if we will hear. His voice is all around us. Prayer is the avenue of His most intimate communication with us. Like radio waves constantly filling the air, all we need do is dial in with a humble heart, and we will begin to hear. We are to be lifelong learners, and everything we need for this process is before us.
THE HUMAN INGREDIENT
... is the humility to recognize our need, the trust to turn to Him for understanding, and the wisdom to respond to the instruction given … to humbly obey. If we "heed instruction," it will keep us on the "path of life." If we ignore what God and others tell us, we will "go astray." It's as simple as that.
How tragic is the straying life.
OUR PRIDE
... is the primary culprit that destroys teachability. We won't look to, listen, or respond to God or others if we think we know better. We will ignore when His Spirit tries to correct us. We will blindly go our own way with an unteachable, arrogant heart and become the worst version of ourselves. A proud man is unusable and often obnoxious … a sad caricature of what he was created to be.
What is God trying to say to you right now? Are you putting yourself in position every day to hear through His Word and prayer? Do you seek godly counsel from wise men and women? Are you instantly obeying what He is saying? Are you becoming more tender or hardened as the years accumulate? Wise or foolish? Conformed to the image of His Son or conformed to this world?
If you wisely listen and obey, you will enjoy the exquisite joy of His fellowship, the perfect wisdom of His instruction, and continual transformation by His Spirit. You will have life and in so doing, become life-giving to those around you.
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