He who scorns instruction will pay for it, but he who respects a command is
rewarded. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the
snares of death. Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful
is hard. ~Proverbs 13:13-15
The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all of his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ~John 10:2-4
“Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.” Or, in other words, “Reading the instructions ends up being easier than taking it out of the box and figuring it out as you go.” I’ve heard about those Christmas bicycles that got put together at midnight with parts to spare. Sometimes, we are just too impatient, or think we know. Maybe it can be a pride thing: “I don’t need instructions. I know what I’m doing!”
The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all of his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ~John 10:2-4
“Good understanding wins favor, but the way of the unfaithful is hard.” Or, in other words, “Reading the instructions ends up being easier than taking it out of the box and figuring it out as you go.” I’ve heard about those Christmas bicycles that got put together at midnight with parts to spare. Sometimes, we are just too impatient, or think we know. Maybe it can be a pride thing: “I don’t need instructions. I know what I’m doing!”
That may be okay for a bicycle that can be taken apart for or a do over, maybe after retrieving instructions from the recycling bucket, but putting life back together is a whole different matter altogether. But life does have an owner's manual. The Bible is often called, "Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth."
People are also sources of wisdom. But we don't see that very easily either. You’ve probably all heard the
example of time and maturity that goes something like this. At age five, “My
parents are wonderful!” At age eleven, “My parents are okay, but they’re a big
goofy.” At age sixteen, “My parents are hopelessly old fashioned.” College age,
“My parents are clueless! They don’t know anything!” Age thirty, “My parents
know a few things.” Age forty, “I’ll have to talk it over with my parents and
get their opinion.” Age sixty, “I wish I had my parents to talk to about this.”
Part of growing up is learning to appreciate the wisdom of those around us and growing in patience to hear other opinions and perspectives. Pity the one who is stuck in the teenage to early twenties mentality. He or she is like the one who scorns instruction. He will pay for it someday. “But he who respects a command is rewarded.” That’s probably one of the hardest things for us to grow out of, the sense that we are in charge.
I suppose it goes back to our discussion about pride a few days ago. But in truth, we just really struggle with the notion that we are supposed to be followers! Even leaders do best as followers of our Shepherd. But we want to run ahead to prove that we know. We don’t want to be led. That just takes so long.
“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.” We need to take the time to learn His voice, and to be patient to learn what He has to tell us. The hard life comes when we do not wait, run ahead, and end up having to back track or clean up after our impatience. We just have a hard time believing that the easier life really is found in patience and listening.
In a sheep fold, the nighttime resting place for many flocks, there can be many shepherds and many sheep. There is safety in numbers after all. But, in the morning, when it is time to leave the fold, each shepherd calls out and each sheep, recognizes the voice it belongs to and steadfastly remains with that voice. It should be the same with us.
Our shepherd has wisdom and understanding for our ears to hear and for our lives to follow. If we grow impatient and just want to break out of the fold and follow whatever shepherd is leaving at the moment, we can do that, but that shepherd will not have our best in his mind. Only one really knows us. Our shepherd is “The Good Shepherd,” who pursues us to return us to His flock. We can fight it. But we are foolish if we do. He is the one who loves us and truly cares for us. There are no extra parts when we follow His instructions.
Prayer: Father thank you that all the words we really need to hear from You are written down for us in the Bible. Thank You also for those dear saints who have lived by that Book and lovingly share their own discoveries about the benefits of doing things Your way. Thank You Jesus and Holy Spirit for working on our insides, to help us listen and believe, so that You ultimately win the spiritual battle for our minds and hearts and we learn to follow you. We love You and admire You God. In Jesus' name, amen.
Song: The 23d Psalm
Part of growing up is learning to appreciate the wisdom of those around us and growing in patience to hear other opinions and perspectives. Pity the one who is stuck in the teenage to early twenties mentality. He or she is like the one who scorns instruction. He will pay for it someday. “But he who respects a command is rewarded.” That’s probably one of the hardest things for us to grow out of, the sense that we are in charge.
I suppose it goes back to our discussion about pride a few days ago. But in truth, we just really struggle with the notion that we are supposed to be followers! Even leaders do best as followers of our Shepherd. But we want to run ahead to prove that we know. We don’t want to be led. That just takes so long.
“The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one from the snares of death.” We need to take the time to learn His voice, and to be patient to learn what He has to tell us. The hard life comes when we do not wait, run ahead, and end up having to back track or clean up after our impatience. We just have a hard time believing that the easier life really is found in patience and listening.
In a sheep fold, the nighttime resting place for many flocks, there can be many shepherds and many sheep. There is safety in numbers after all. But, in the morning, when it is time to leave the fold, each shepherd calls out and each sheep, recognizes the voice it belongs to and steadfastly remains with that voice. It should be the same with us.
Our shepherd has wisdom and understanding for our ears to hear and for our lives to follow. If we grow impatient and just want to break out of the fold and follow whatever shepherd is leaving at the moment, we can do that, but that shepherd will not have our best in his mind. Only one really knows us. Our shepherd is “The Good Shepherd,” who pursues us to return us to His flock. We can fight it. But we are foolish if we do. He is the one who loves us and truly cares for us. There are no extra parts when we follow His instructions.
Prayer: Father thank you that all the words we really need to hear from You are written down for us in the Bible. Thank You also for those dear saints who have lived by that Book and lovingly share their own discoveries about the benefits of doing things Your way. Thank You Jesus and Holy Spirit for working on our insides, to help us listen and believe, so that You ultimately win the spiritual battle for our minds and hearts and we learn to follow you. We love You and admire You God. In Jesus' name, amen.
Song: The 23d Psalm
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