Instruction

Those similar words in the Bible like "instruction", "reproof", and "rebuke" all center around gaining and growing in wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. We are taking the correction of the Bible and godly leaders in order to grow as a Christian. Since we never "arrive" in the Christian life this is something we will be doing our whole lives as we grow and stretch toward maturity.

This week I have been examining some areas of my life and tweaking my thoughts and behavior concerning those subjects. I have been challenged in many ways as I've considered and accepted the implications of those decisions. The good news is that these things won't hinder God's work in my life as I've surrendered to His plan. I would hate to limit God in my life over such ultimately trivial things. (The issues aren't trivial but my "objections" would be.)

There would only be bad news if I were refusing to accept or follow the instruction and prompting of the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 5 talks about the end result of the person who refuses to accept correction.

7. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. 8. Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house: 9. Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel: 10. Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger. 11. And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed.

That is not the end result that I want. But how did that person get there? What drastic path did they start down to lead to such horrendous results? There wasn't a drastic path. A simple, often overlooked, path led them there. It's explained in the next few verses.

12. And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; 13. And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

They refused to accept instruction. The last verse of that chapter states, "He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray." I think I'll heed this warning and continue to listen for correction and make the necessary changes in my life.

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