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,
We pray for your Spirit to be with us today as we interact with the world around us. You have warned us that those who are hostile toward you will hate us when we give them warnings. Jesus told us that just as the world hated him, it would also hate us. He also said that he did not come to this world to bring peace but division. Those wrapped up in the world hate us; even when out of love, we direct them to what your word says.
However, you tell us a wise person will love you, listen to us, and become even wiser. This wisdom comes from the work of your Spirit; it is not something that comes from within us. A person who knows the forgiveness Jesus had won for them when he died on the cross will also realize their sins. So, when someone points out their iniquities, they have the desire to change. So out of faith and love for you, the wise person will not hate us but repent of their sins and desire Jesus’ forgiveness. All this comes to us from hearing the good news of Jesus’ forgiveness. In his forgiveness through faith, we are made right with you—made righteous.
We pray that you will give us opportunities to spread seeds of the gospel today, so many will become wise. We pray that many workers would go out and share this good news, resulting in the many—who do not know about your love—will become wise through faith in you. Amen.
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
“So then, how can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one about whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without a preacher?”—Romans 10:14