Matthew 23
LINGER WITH WHAT PROVOKES

Prophets, wise men and teachers don’t always say what we want them to say. In fact, if they are honest (which they should be), it is possible we won’t like what they say at all, because their words will poke at us, show up our sore spots, make us uncomfortable and sometimes even angry.

A wise person once told me, “Linger with what provokes.” If something provokes us, angers us, hurts us or irritates us, then it is worth our stopping to honestly figure out why. If the hurt turns out to be because our conscience has been pricked; if the hurt is because we have an unresolved issue; if it points out a lack in ourselves or our character, then we need to deal with it. But if they are wrong, after examining ourselves, we can dismiss what provoked us.

When the Jews were provoked by the prophets, wise man and teachers Jesus sent, they persecuted and killed the people Jesus sent instead of examining themselves. (Matthew 23 v 33 – 34). That was not a good thing to do. Let’s not be like that.

Let us linger with what provokes and change our lives to become more like Christ.

May we be responsive to the word of God in our lives this week.

With love in our Lord
Robert
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