Proverbs 1:23. If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.
Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody is a fool at times. And one of the most loving things that God does for his children when we are foolish is that he disciplines us. He reproves (corrects) us. God is a good Heavenly Father who will show us when we are failing to trust and obey his perfect ways. How does God reprove and correct us? Mostly through his words. God says that he makes his word known to us?
As we look at redemptive history through the Bible, we might say that God speaks to us in “Two Words”: The law, and the gospel. Law says, “Here’s how to obey me. If you obey me, you will be blessed, and if you disobey me, then you will be cursed.” Gospel says, “I have freely blessed you in Christ so that you can obey.”
Todays’ proverb is written almost as law. Can you see it? IF you turn at my reproof, THEN I will pour out my Spirit to you. Yes, God’s law is God’s reproof. His correction. By simply showing us his perfect ways he is revealing our imperfect hearts and minds, and correcting the course of our lives. But only IF we turn at God’s reproof.
But praise God that in Christ we have heard the gospel. Praise God that the Spirit of Christ has been poured out on us because his kindness has caused us to turn to him. His kindness has brought us to repentance (Rom. 2:4), not his law. Now by his Spirit we no longer fear God’s reproof. Why? Because God’s love is no longer contingent upon our obedience. God’s grace is not earned or deserved. God’s Spirit is a gift, not a reward. And when all of this is true (and it is), then we can fearlessly listen to both words of God, his law and his gospel. We can let the law reprove us without shame. We can let the gospel heal us without demands.
You: Do you tend to only hear God’s law? Gospel? How can you listen to both words of God?
You in Christ: The gospel says that we are in Christ and have the Spirit correcting us in him. How does union with Christ allow you to receive this reproof without shame?
Christ in you: Is there a specific area of your life where the Spirit of Christ is correcting you? Are you listening? In what way can he empower you to turn from sin?
Pray: Father, your discipline and correction is always because you love me. Your Son and your Spirit are not my reward for repentance, they are my gracious power for repentance. Amen.
To Live is Christ 