Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
MEMORIZE:”Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Prov. 9:9).
READ: Proverbs 9:7-9
Apart from identifying a wise person by who or what he learns from, he can also be known by his or her attitude to correction. Anyone who cannot be corrected cannot attain wisdom. According to today’s reading, if you find it difficult to love those who correct you, you are a scorner and a fool. A scorner takes offence when corrected, hence, the fellow often plans to revenge by disgracing the one who has corrected him. If that is your attitude towards correction, you are a fool. If people have cause to regret ever correcting you, it is because you are a scorner and a fool. A fool cannot be corrected. Some so-called believers prefer to relocate from their local assembly than to submit to the discipline of their pastor. Such an attitude shows that the fellow has not been truly broken. If your pastor cannot correct you, who else can? Avoiding the correction of your spiritual leader put you at risk in the court of Heaven. It is only a fool that will dodge five strokes of the cane only to later get twenty-four strokes of the rod. What is your attitude to correction? Do you take it with humility or you rebuff it arrogantly?
In addition, you can identify a wise person by his or her response to questions. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”. The fellow that is in a hurry to provide answers to questions asked may take some slips. This is why the wise-hearted will first consider what to say and how to say it before opening his mouth. If you are not careful with your answers, you may end up fuelling the fire that you intended to quench. Hence, the preacher says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Prov. 15:1). There are soft words and there are harsh words. Harsh, bad and inciting words emanate from the mouth of a fool, while soft, palliative and soothing words emanate from the mouth of the wise. What kind of words come out of your mouth? When you find yourself in volatile situation, are you able to bring it under control by your words? The wise pick their words. They take their time. And when they do not have the right words, they ask for more time. Do you give out right words at all times?
ACTION POINT
If you cannot be corrected, but you correct others and expect them to make adjustments, can you not best be described as a hypocrite? Accept correction.
Bible in One year: Dan 1-3
MEMORIZE:”Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” (Prov. 9:9).
READ: Proverbs 9:7-9
Apart from identifying a wise person by who or what he learns from, he can also be known by his or her attitude to correction. Anyone who cannot be corrected cannot attain wisdom. According to today’s reading, if you find it difficult to love those who correct you, you are a scorner and a fool. A scorner takes offence when corrected, hence, the fellow often plans to revenge by disgracing the one who has corrected him. If that is your attitude towards correction, you are a fool. If people have cause to regret ever correcting you, it is because you are a scorner and a fool. A fool cannot be corrected. Some so-called believers prefer to relocate from their local assembly than to submit to the discipline of their pastor. Such an attitude shows that the fellow has not been truly broken. If your pastor cannot correct you, who else can? Avoiding the correction of your spiritual leader put you at risk in the court of Heaven. It is only a fool that will dodge five strokes of the cane only to later get twenty-four strokes of the rod. What is your attitude to correction? Do you take it with humility or you rebuff it arrogantly?
In addition, you can identify a wise person by his or her response to questions. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man”. The fellow that is in a hurry to provide answers to questions asked may take some slips. This is why the wise-hearted will first consider what to say and how to say it before opening his mouth. If you are not careful with your answers, you may end up fuelling the fire that you intended to quench. Hence, the preacher says, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Prov. 15:1). There are soft words and there are harsh words. Harsh, bad and inciting words emanate from the mouth of a fool, while soft, palliative and soothing words emanate from the mouth of the wise. What kind of words come out of your mouth? When you find yourself in volatile situation, are you able to bring it under control by your words? The wise pick their words. They take their time. And when they do not have the right words, they ask for more time. Do you give out right words at all times?
ACTION POINT
If you cannot be corrected, but you correct others and expect them to make adjustments, can you not best be described as a hypocrite? Accept correction.
Bible in One year: Dan 1-3
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