Here is my spiritual lesson to myself for the day. I am reading Proverbs.
Pro 11:12 "He who belittles his neighbor has no sense, but a man of understanding remains silent."
Hey, I belittled another student all this week, and I am the one saying it is not our place to judge one another. I have known this all week, and here it is in the Bible.
Pro 12:14 "From the fruit of his words a man is satisfied with good, and the work of a man's hand comes back to him."
I don't really understand that one very well, but it sounds scary if it means that the things I did this week will be done to me.
Pro 12:15 "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but the prudent man listens to advice."
I guess I am a member of a group of fools. I am saying that here on this Christian campus we all think our way is the right way. Here is where the fools are.
Pro 12:16 "The vexation of a fool is known at once, but the prudent man ignores an insult."
I need to learn what an insult really is. Lord, please give me discernment.
Pro 12:26 "A righteous man turns away from evil, but the way of the wicked leads them astray."
Is that what it means to be righteous. I pray that the Lord will take all judgmental thoughts about what happened this week from me. Please help me to learn from this reading.
Pro 13:20 "He who walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Who are the wise people I know?
Pro 14:6 "A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding."
So far I have not been a "man of understanding. Is that ever possible? What does that mean, anyway? If I look back at chapter 11, verse 12, I see that a man of understanding "remains silent." Is my recent failure to do that forgivable?
Pro 14:9 "God scorns the wicked, but the righteous enjoy his favor."
Who are the righteous, and is it ever possible for me to become one of them? If I look back to chapter 13, verse 20, I read that if I "walk with wise men," I can become wise. Surely everyone has to start somewhere, and I do know the verse that says: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature, and old things are passed away." I CAN start over again. I said I should be able to realize that if I wanted to recommit my life to Christ, He would still accept me.
Well, I learned some things today, and I am trying hard to open my heart and mind to them. I believe too much that I can never find favor with God. I must realize that my chance is as great as anyone else's and that only God can help me to become "righteous."
