The Daily Word: Friday, August 14th, 2020
Nehemiah 7:73-9:21
1 Corinthians 9:1-18
Psalm 33:12-22
Proverbs 21:11-12
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; but when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge. – Prov. 21:11
Are you a parent with kids who sometimes do the wrong thing? Are you a manager of employees who sometimes need coaching? A leader at a church where people sometimes don’t get it right?
Punishment has its purpose. Punishment acknowledges that wrong has been done. Our Scripture today says that punishment makes the simple wise! It provides a person who has made a mistake with the realization that change needs to happen.
But even the wise need instruction. Instruction makes the wise knowledgeable. Don’t stop at punishing your kids, your employees or your congregation! Take it one step further and teach them. Take them by the hand and show them where to go. Don’t just tell them what they did wrong! Instruct them so that they know what it means to do right. It does no good to tell people what they can’t do, unless you also instruct them in what they can.
God didn’t leave us in our sin. He didn’t leave us punished for failing to keep His law! He sent Jesus so that we might see what it means to do right. He sent Jesus to the Cross so His Spirit would live within us and instruct us every moment of every day!
Prayer:
Father, help me to be a good parent. A good manager. A good leader! I don’t want to just tell people in my care what they did wrong. I want to show them what it means to do right! Instruct me so that I can have the knowledge I need to love people well, in Jesus’ name.
Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.
See commentary from this day in 2018.
See commentary from this day in 2019.
© Michael D. White, 2020. All rights reserved.