INTRODUCTION

Today's passage proves the Bible truth that our thoughts are not God’s thoughts, neither our ways His ways (Isaiah 55:8-9 [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
See All...). God's thoughts are always unimaginably loftier than ours. Unlike God, our thoughts are bound by our limited knowledge. Contrary to the Lord’s, our knowledge is easily corrupted through various influences. This is why scripture reading and preaching often conflicts with our natural thought process. For instance, our natural mind considers rebuke something harmful, negatively affecting the person receiving it. We also naturally consider flattery as something beneficial and uplifting to the recipient. Yet, we have already seen how flattery can be harmful, but have you ever considered the superiority of a rebuke? The Bible says rebuke is better because of what it yields “afterwards.” In the long run, rebuke is far superior to flattery.

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

• (For children): The prophet Nathan did not enjoy telling king David that he had sinned (2 Samuel 12:7And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;
  See All...). Yet, David had been miserable hiding his sin and felt better once he had confessed it to God (Psalm 32:1-5 [1] Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. [2] Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. [3] When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. [4] For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. [5] I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
  See All...). Though Nathan rebuked David, David continued to love Nathan (Psalm 141:5Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
  See All...).
• (For everyone):  How do you feel when you have to rebuke someone? How do you feel when you use your tongue to flatter someone? What does this teach us concerning our feelings and their connection to right and wrong?
• A godly rebuke presents the reality of our condition. Flattery, on the other hand, presents a deceitful view of our condition. Knowing this, how can a rebuke be so superior in the long run?

PRAYER NEEDS

• Ask the Lord to help you consider what is best over the long term.
• Ask God to give you wisdom to choose rebuke over flattery.

HYMN

SINCE YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN

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