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Day 303 Proverbs 28:23 Proverbs 28:23 He that rebukes a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flatters with the tongue. You all know people who do nothing but flatter and give compliments; people who agree with you no matter what you say and do. Then there are people, who if you’re like me, know you need to rebuke or confront someone, but are scared to do so, but when you do, the person accepts it and both find favor and blessing from the encounter. As king and businessman, Solomon had occasion to rebuke often. I’m almost certain he was well acquainted with people who were forever flattering him on his decisions as king and businessman. He said there was more favor in a rebuke than when someone flattered him. A rebuke is a learning opportunity. When someone rebukes you, they are trying to help you do something the best way possible. If you’re a parent, you’ve had many opportunities to watch your child learn how to do something. He or she will try everything until they succeed. Often when you as a parent want to intervene, you hear – I do it. And you watch, knowing there’s an easier way, and when your child is ready to listen, then you can show him the easier way and both of you are rewarded. Your reward is the huge smile on their face when they ‘get it’, and they are rewarded because they learned something new they will use the rest of their life. As Christians, your rebuke comes in several ways. One, is from the Word of God. As you read and study, you learn what you didn’t before. Two, from those pastors and teachers in authority over you. They have all been through the school of hard knocks in Christian doctrine and in their lives as they grew and matured to the place they’re at. Their wisdom and rebuke is the highest form of reward you can get. Then third, there is the rebuke of a friend and mentor in your walk in the Lord. That too is invaluable as you grow and mature, getting to the place in your Christian walk when you will take on the role of mentor, teaching and discipling other Christians so they too will grow in their faith and walk in the Lord. Jesus spent three years teaching the disciples. There was a moment when he, too, had to rebuke Peter for his lack of understanding. Peter had just professed that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God. When Jesus started talking about what was coming – his death and resurrection for the salvation of all mankind, Peter rebuked him. Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. 23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. As Christians, you need to know when it is a good time to rebuke or confront someone, and when it’s not. Peter was full of himself. He gave the right answer, and Jesus gave him the keys of the kingdom. He was full of self-importance when he took it upon himself to rebuke Jesus. He should have been quaking in his sandals to do so to the Son of God, his Messiah. However, did you see what Jesus said to him? He recognized Satan had gotten a hold of him in that instance and didn’t rebuke Peter, but Satan who thought he could use Peter as a tool against Jesus. Before you rebuke or confront anyone, do a self-examination first. What benefit will come from the confrontation? Will the person be open to your rebuke? If so, you will have a greater blessing, not just from the person you confronted, but from God as well. You will never receive any blessings or rewards as a flatterer, but you will when you confront someone to help them in their walk of faith in Jesus Christ. Let’s pray: Father, help me discern when to confront someone and when it’s prudent not to. Give me wisdom and understanding of the situation so it will help both of us and bring blessings on our lives. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 9 July 2017 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay