Those who Actually Want Good News

Scripture:
The one who corrects a mocker
will bring abuse on himself;
the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt.
Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you;
rebuke the wise, and he will love you.
Proverbs 9:7-8

Observation: As Lady Wisdom calls people to her - specifically calling those who are "inexperienced" to learn from her - she makes this statement about whom should receive wisdom. There are those who embrace wisdom by desiring to learn more about the Lord, and giving correction to such individuals will bring reward. However, those who mock the Lord cannot even receive correction, and anyone who attempts to correct them will just bring insult and pain upon themselves.

Application: I have seen this over and over ... those who completely reject the Lord, and mock the very idea of heavenly goodness, cannot receive wise correction. Attempts to correct such people bring pain, and wisdom herself gives an interesting instruction, which is that we shouldn't even attempt it for we will only get hurt.

This again reminds me of a consistent teaching from God. Christians are to evangelize to those who are, at some level, opening themselves up to the Lord. Those who have rejected every idea about God and Jesus can be left to be God's issue, softened and corrected (or not) based on his plan and timing. We are to give the good news to those who actually want the good news. If someone agrees they are inexperienced and would like to receive wise council about how to have a good life, then the wisdom of Jesus should be on our lips to pass along. As for mockers, they will only hate such teaching.

Prayer: Lord, may those who are open to you and your good news be placed in my path today, and on the path of other believers, so we may deliver your wisdom. Amen.