Read through Proverbs in 31 days, Today’s reading is entitled “Rejoice In the Wisdom Of Your Children”
Read Proverbs 23 – What do you believe our focal point for today really means? We should certainly rejoice in the wisdom of our own children! Do we have other “children” to whom we and others have imparted worldly and spiritual wisdom? This question should prompt thoughts of Sunday school students you may have taught and many others who were mentored in various ways. Yes, rejoice in the wisdom of members of your family tree and spiritual children. Are you always conscious of your actions and the effects they can have on others? Most people cannot answer this question in the affirmative since it includes the word “always.” You should always remember that you interact with people every day who know you are a Christian.
A Christian’s light shines in many ways, let’s look at a few.
- Pay special attention to your actions when invited to eat with a ruler, abstain from gluttony in case he is laying a trap for you.
- Don’t steal from the defenseless orphans or cheat your neighbor, don’t waste your breath on fools who will despise wisdom.
- Commit yourself to instruction and heed knowledge because the Redeemer will bring charges against those who don’t.
- Rejoice in the wisdom evidenced by your child’s words and actions. Receive the Lord’s reward as you continue to fear and maintain hope in Him.
- Don’t allow wine and strong drink to control your life, the destination of such is anguish, fighting and bloodshot eyes.
Are we creating “spiritual children” continually through our attitude and actions? The great commission tells us to go out into the world and spread God’s Word. If we are accepting of this assignment then, yes, we are continually creating spiritual children, grandchildren and so on. By paying special attention to our actions, attitudes and dealings with others our spiritual family tree will continue to grow. Unfortunately, though, we are still human and far from perfect. We will stumble and are likely to contradict previous positive influences. Although we slip there is a certainty that God forgives anything when the request is accompanied with repentance. God will forgive, others may forgive, but are we able to forgive ourselves? Hey, we know all of the thoughts, reasons and actions behind every blunder we make. So does God, and He forgives us. Yes, we should be able to rejoice in His wisdom and forgive ourselves also. What is this about the Redeemer bringing charges also? I am glad you were considering this question. To find an answer read Matthew 6, verse 15 where Jesus says that if we do not forgive the sins of others, the Father will not forgive ours. You cannot control whether others forgive, but you can ask forgiveness of them. Another power that you have as an individual is the ability to move beyond the bondage that hate can create. When you refuse to forgive someone, the recurring thoughts of how you were wronged can remove any chance at peace and possibly consume your life. What happens when you “cast your burdens upon the Lord?” Turn to Psalm 55, verse 22 to verify what you already know.
