2 Chronicles 10: Ignoring Advice
Friday, October 11, 2019
Sometimes the advice we receive from others is worthless; sometimes it is pure gold. The difficulty in life is to discern when to heed which words. This can be resolved when we decide to draw on God’s wisdom as our primary source of advice, and then allow the words of our family and friends to fill in the gaps of what we believe to be God’s message.
We may have difficulty hearing the Word within; if so, we may want to practice the art of listening a bit more until we have formed well-trodden spiritual pathways to God and back.
We may have difficulty feeling the Word of God resonate within; if so, we may want to practice feeling empathy for those unlike us a bit more until we have taught our hearts more of God’s language.
We may have difficulty expressing the Word of God to others; if so, we may want to find a trusted friend who will serve as a sounding board for our thoughts.
We may have difficulty witnessing to the Word of God in a public way; if so, we may want to spend time with Scripture to see how others have done so through the ages.
Communication in any form does not come easily. It takes practice. Finding trustworthy sources of wisdom of any kind is a challenge. It takes persistence. Acting in a manner that matches our beliefs for any reason is difficult at best. It takes authenticity. Speaking in a way that calls others to Christ in any way is complicated. It takes fidelity. Listening in a way that leads us to good, solid decision-making is taxing. It takes endurance.
All of this patience and compassion is too much for us humans, we say, and yet . . . we know what happens when we take the advice that suits us at the moment but does not challenge us. We know what happens when we ignore God’s call and go our own way. We know what happens when we are silent or when we do not act when and as we ought.
The choice before these young men in today’s Noontime is clear. We see their example. Do we follow it? Or do we follow Christ?
Written on September 15, 2010 and posted today as a Favorite.
To find a Daily Bible Reading Plan, visit: https://www.biblegateway.com/reading-plans/?version=NIV
Or create a plan of your own by beginning with Acts . . . but read each day . . . and listen . . .
Image from: http://niagaranissan.com/
The Noontimes 