Who's Who

DEVOTION
PROVERBS
WHO’S WHO
Prov 9:7-9
7 "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. 9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
NIV
But what about bringing the gospel to the unsaved? Maybe this is the same as not casing my pearls before swine. If a person simply refuses to accept the scripture as the holy inspired word of God, are they not in the category of mocker? Why should I bother trying to convince them of their error? Why should I try to correct their ideas? It does not make any sense and according to this all I will get in return is abuse. If I tell them they are just wrong in their thinking, all will happen is hatred toward me and then I stand absolutely no opportunity to show them Christ through my live. I cannot turn my back on them, especially if they are my family, and then even if not, they are still lost and need Jesus. But if their scoff, make mouth at, God nothing I say will matter anyway, I can only live out the love of God in their presence. I do wonder sometimes though about if some believers even fall into this same category. I know that sounds awful even to verbalize, but if a believer refuses to accept the fact they still sin, or that they are unwilling to learn more about how to live, maybe they are not as wise as they think. I surely know I still have problems with sin in areas of my life, and that I am so lacking in knowledge of all the ways of God. I have so much to learn and understand, I do not think I will ever be done with my studies. Although I must admit I do have a great deal of opinions about the scriptures, insights which I believe God has revealed to me, but I am I sure I have more to come. I think this might apply toward that very concept in the sense of being rebuked by God and loving him for it, being instructed by God and being wiser for it, and being taught the ways of righteousness and increasing in the knowledge of it. Yet I think it also might be in a sense a calling by God, to those who hear it, to spend time and effort among the household of faith, bringing them the Word of God which in itself does the rebuking, instructing and training in righteousness. But it is good to hear it, to speak it, to explain it, expound upon it, bringing insights to those who desire to learn more about their journey with God. Should not all believers feel this way about the rest of believers, helping each other to learn more and be all that God desires us to be? I think so. Does it come down checking identities before opening my mouth about God? Can I tell who’s who?