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It is better to listen to the rebuke of a wise man than for one to listen to the song of fools.
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The word rebuke is defined as meaning an expression of disapproval. Meaning that someone is telling you, reprimanding you, to say that what you are doing, or the way you are doing it is wrong. In Scripture it is a strong word of correction that is intended to change a follower into a disciple! A follower just hears while a disciple hears and obeys.

The instruction of the Lord makes clear that to be a disciple requires a total commitment to Jesus our Master and God our Father. Surrendering not some, not even a lot, but rather all! Not a new concept when we remember the words that the Lord commanded Moses to teach all of His people:
“And you shall love the Lord (YHWH} your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your might.” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

There are in fact no part time disciples, and in reality, probably no part time Christians either! He has given us His Word which is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and to train us in righteousness. {2Tim.3:16-17} Not only should we not reject His discipline, we should like David, a man after God’s own heart, desire it and seek it! He prayed “Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; It is oil upon the head; Do not let my head refuse it.” {Ps.141:5} Truly as Solomon wrote, “he who neglects discipline despises himself.” {Pro.15:32}

To learn and to practice this is a wonderful idea considering that as the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy (and us) that the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart. {1Tim.1:5] We need God’s loving discipline, which by the way is not punishment, but rather to remove the impurities. He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. {Heb.12:10} And as it goes on to say, all discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Certainly something sweeter than listening to the songs of fools as today’s verse says!

One of the great prophesies of the coming Messiah, Jesus, by the prophet Isaiah foretold that He would have and delight in the fear of the Lord, YHWH. We should also count ourselves blessed because God disciplines those whom He loves. {Heb.12:6} Even Jesus whose ministry here on earth was perfected and made complete in the sufferings of the cross. {Heb.2:9-10}

For quite a number of years a part of my ministry, in addition to preaching, involved traveling all about and teaching on the Lord’s plan for personal and professional growth. I had to define success because I found that asking a hundred Christians what they thought success was would bring far more than 100 different answers. I prayed and settled on this: You have been successful if at the end of the day when you come face to face with Jesus you hear Him say…

“…Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew 25:21)

TEST EVERYTHING BY THE WORD OF GOD