SCRIPTURE: Luke 11:45-54
If I had a really bad attitude or behaviour that was hurting others, would I want to be told about it?
Who would my real friend be – the one who said nothing, or the one who challenged me on it?
Why was Jesus challenging these religious leaders – from hate or from love?
“Better is open rebuke than hidden love.” (Proverbs 27:5)
When someone does question or challenge me, do I respond openly or defensively?
I know I do not like it when someone points out a weakness… even when I know it’s true.
We have to realize that our attitudes and behaviours not only hurt God, and us, but they also hinder others.
“You have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” (Luke 11:52)
As a religious leader, people look to me for hope and help; am I easing their burden, or making it worse?
I would hate to find out one day that I had been hindering people from God or hope or life or forgiveness.
Better to know and change now, than to learn and regret later.
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I do not like it when I am rebuked. But I need to know now, so that I can change. Help me to see where I am adding to the burden, and hindering people from knowing and experiencing You.