Day Seventeen

Proverbs 17:10 (Dissected and Defined):
A reproof (a compressed correction)) entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
Daily Devo Paraphrase:We can conclude from this verse that a Spirit-led Christian (a wise man) needs reproof.  What is a reproof?  It is not correcting another with harbored emotions such as bitterness or envy.  Those “Ephesians 4:31 emotions” are the driving force behind strife.  But that is not what is meant by reproof.

Reproof is primarily a role of the Holy Spirit.  He will administer correction without compressed feelings through three resources.First the Spirit gives reproof through the Inscribed Proof. Second Timothy 3:16 tells us that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for…reproof.”  The Holy Spirit will point out areas of correction through His Word.  This is why daily Bible reading is important!  Those words are inspired by God and are alive!  God will correct you without compressed feelings through His Written Words.

Second, the Spirit gives reproof through Internal Persuasion. That internal persuasion is God’s Spirit that lives within you.  His role is found in Proverbs 1:23.  Wisdom (the Holy Spirit) pleads, “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you…” God’s Spirit living through you is 100% dependant on your yielding to His reproof.

Third, the Spirit gives reproof through outside pressure. This is the God-ordained leadership over us.  Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves.”  Submit to what?  Submit to their reproofs.  God will use the outside pressure of God-ordained leadership to reprove us when we are in need of it.  It is our responsibility to yield to it as it falls in line with the Internal Persuasion of the Spirit and Inscribed Proof of the Word.

No one likes to be corrected with the compressed emotions of an angry reprover.  That’s not reproof.  That is a rebuke.  Thus, it behooves us to first yield to our Internal and Inscribed Reprovers. 
Approve when you are reproved and you will not have to face the Duke of Rebuke!