Tag Archives: relationships

And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life

No More Bitter

And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed by the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel.

Ruth 4:14

Reading:

Ruth 4:13-17; Matthew 1:1-6

What would it take to turn my bitterness away in favor of sweetness?

Does it matter to God that a name-loaded Bible passage is burdensome to me?

How readily do I accept an “outsider” into my circle?

How well do I relate to a repentant “sex sinner”?

Is there room in my congregation for Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba?

“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1).

[The Scriptures say in Ruth 4:15 -- And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life]
from Ruth 4:15

Add value and beauty by your reproof!
Reading:

Proverbs 25:1-12

That’s the kind of correction I would like to give!

In other words, when I must correct someone, I would like to be as one who adds something of value and beauty to the “target” of my reproof. Like this:

“As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear” (Proverbs 25:12).

But how do I and my reproof become that kind of jewel?

What does it take to attain to such value and beauty?

Well, “unfortunately” it’s a painful, often unwelcome process:

“Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer” (Proverbs 25:4).

😯 I have to experience and submit to the heat of the purifying fire!

Ouch!!

Only then will my reproof and counsel reach the degree of value, beauty, and purity which I crave.

Only then will my words be like this:

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

The Scriptures say in Proverbs 25:8 -- Go not forth hastily to strive

from Proverbs 25:8