Proverbs 9:8-9
Do not warn a mocker, or he will hate you. Warn a wise person, and he will love you. Give advice to a wise person, and he will become even wiser. Teach a righteous person, and he will add to his learning.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for these words of wisdom. Especially when we ask a person about their faith because we are concerned about their impending doom from their unbelief, this has caused divisions in families, troubles among friends, and challenges among coworkers and is a quick way for Satan to shut believers down from sharing the message of forgiveness with others. Thank you for giving us a heads-up not to take their attacks personally. This type of result when we share your truth with them may cause them to hate us, but that demonstrates what kind of a friend they are, especially when we want to warn them out of love. It is the fool who retaliates or makes fun of a loving person. Lord, in these situations, we simply step aside and allow your Spirit to work in them, and if they continue to reject you, their fate is on them.
Instead, we warn a wise person; Luke recorded Zacharias’ words, “to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.” This is the beginning of wisdom to not only know of their Savior but to know what he had done. We were all dead in our sins, and a wise person knows he is accountable to you for those sins. By warning that person and giving them the wisdom of Christ, they understand how their sins are removed, and they have eternal life that comes through faith—provided by your Spirit. Lord, please put wise people in our path today that we can share Jesus with them, and they will be all the wiser. Amen.
Roger Emmons
Pastor
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Those who reject God’s word are not rejecting you, so don’t take it personally. Move on to a wise person, who God has already prepared; they are ready to listen.