Rebuked!

Rebuked!

The ear that listens to and learns from the life-giving rebuke (reprimand, censure) Will remain among the wise. PROVERBS 15:31 AMP

The first impression upon my heart as I read the words: 'the ear that listens' is that as always, I have been given the power to  choose and I will limited to 2 responses. It is either that I listen to or I simply ignore instruction. The physical ear was created to aid the sense of hearing and balance, and that is a window to the spiritual also. The inner ear enables me discern what I hear and under God's control, know the motives and intentions behind the things that I hear. God is so great that even without the physical sense of hearing, men can have a deep spiritual sense of discernment. It means then that with God, it is not really about what you hear but how you respond to the matters that imprint your heart.

What is at stake here: it is eternal life, pure and simple. The emphasis of today's piece is 'Life-giving rebuke'. How can rebuke be life-giving? It must have to do with the source, purpose and target of the rebuke. When I seek to correct, what is the focus? Is it to make me look good or to promote God's Word and work? Is it to show off just a depth of words without the corresponding depth of the knowledge of God? I must be careful about how I speak, and also about what I listen to, as well as the people who have an impact on my heart.

Or how else do you define hypocrisy, if it is not a life whose walk does not match its talk? A life that spends so much effort on impression and has little time for truth. Like it has been said, what is at stake here is eternal life. Wisdom is summarized in the fear of God and one of the keys that opens up God's wisdom is an ear that listens in the right way. So, is my life an example of an ear that listens? Can I be defined as wise or as foolish? Don't just take in the rebuke and insist on doing things your own way; you have got to learn what God wants you to from every experience. That is how a man becomes and remains wise: by listening to Life himself and the things He teaches. Are you wise? His time of favour is here.