… and the gift of reproof.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 1:7, English Standard Version

In this post-modern society certain words are despised, like “reproof” and “the fear of the Lord”. Even in the church we’re tempted to omit words like these. Yet, without them, true wisdom is lost to us.

To “fear” the Lord means we understand that, as sinners, He would be right to condemn us all to hell. We are humbled by His grace that He would save any of us. We are then driven to please Him, to search out His wisdom, and to seek to live a life worthy of the gospel we have received. Without understanding the seriousness of our rebellion we fall into an attitude of entitlement, rather than one of gratitude before the God who, in His great mercy, paid the price for our salvation.

Listen to the words of Wisdom personified in the book of Proverbs, whose voice is as loud and accessible to us as the yield sign in this picture.

“Because I have called and you refused to listen,

    have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel
    and would have none of my reproof,
 I also will laugh at your calamity;
    I will mock when terror strikes you,
 when terror strikes you like a storm
    and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
    when distress and anguish come upon you.
 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
    they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
 Because they hated knowledge
    and did not choose the fear of the Lord . . .” Proverbs 1:24-31, ESV

Storms are indiscriminate. They come to us all. We want to weather them as ones who fear the Lord and not as fools, don’t we? Then we need to treasure the reproof of God’s Word before the storm hits.

” . . . but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
    and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” Proverbs 1:33, ESV

Baptized Believer, He is good to prepare us for every disaster. His reproof is a gift. Let’s keep our ears open to His wisdom today.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, CO.