Proverbs 16:21-22 

²¹The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction. ²²Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.

Martial Arts

A promising young man desired to become champion in Martial Arts. He pleaded before a master to teach him all his knowledge in Martial Arts. Day and night, the young man rigorously followed his master. He studied meticulously and practiced them religiously every detail of Martial Arts that his master taught him. At the proper time, he joined a competition.

As expected, the young man became champion. The master told him, “Teach others.” But the young champion said, “Let’s fight. I want to prove that I can defeat you!” “No need. You are already a champion!” the master replied. But the young champion, insisted and tried to harm the master. The master had to defend himself, but he easily defeated the young champion.

The young champion was frustrated, “How did you defeat me? I am a champion. Did you not teach me all your knowledge in Martial Arts?” His master replied, “I did not expect that you will be proud after you become champion. But I was wise not to teach everything I know. Or else, you could have trampled on me!” The proud champion was humiliated for arrogance.

This fictional story exemplifies people who become proud after they become famous or influential. The Lord knows our tendency to be proud. The Lord is wise and smart. He won’t tell us all his secrets. He won’t reveal to us everything about himself. Nevertheless, the Lord reveals things that are essential for us to praise and thank him. Reflect on what the Lord says in Isaiah 55:9, ⁹As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Most often we ignore the Lord. We cannot discern it when he speaks to us. Even when we hear messages from the Scripture, we are slow to obey, or worst, we just ignore. We need Christ to help us be humble to admit that his plan for us is designed for our betterment. The ways and thoughts of the Lord are designed for his glory. And God reserved his glory for himself alone. Together now. Let us reflect on what the Lord said in Isaiah 48:10-11, ¹⁰I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. ¹¹For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another.

Silver becomes precious after it is refined in hot furnace. Refined skill has higher dividend or payment also. Discipline in studies refines skill.

As refined silver becomes more valuable, the Lord disciplines us to refine us and become more precious to him. He polishes rough edges of our behavior in proportion to his purposes for us. He uses concerns of life, afflictions and problems to patiently refine and discipline us. The Lord’s discipline is proportionate to his plan and purposes to promote us.

1. Promote

                        ²¹The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction.

“Gracious” can be translated “pleasant.” “Promote” can be translated “persuasive.” Gracious word of God is pleasant. Believers are persuaded to follow  pleasant instruction. We obey God because we believe that blessing is added to make his instruction more pleasant for believers to follow.

The Lord created us uniquely, and he has a very unique purpose for each of us. He wisely deals with us individually. We believe that following the gracious word of God rewards with blessings. We pray that the Holy Spirit inspires us to follow his pleasant word more precisely and diligently.

 In comparison, non-religious people won’t be pleased by gracious word of God. No matter what promise is added to the gracious instructions of God, they cannot find it pleasant to obey him. Is it pleasant for you to follow the gracious word of God? God blesses us more when we obey him.

Reflect on one favorite passage in the Scripture in Psalm 19:7-11,

⁷The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. ⁸The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes. ⁹The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. ¹⁰They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. ¹¹By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Perfect law of the Lord refreshes the soul. His trustworthy statutes make wise. His right precepts give joy. His radiant commands give light. His firm and righteous decrees are precious and sweet warning that reward those who obey them. We should listen to the pleasant word of God and be wise to diligently obey him. It’s blessed to hear and obey his gracious word.

Defiantly, non-religious people assume that God would just ignore them for not believing in him. To ignore or disobey God, he punishes both.

2. Punish

                        ²²Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent, but folly brings punishment to fools.

It is wise, it is smart and clever to intentionally listen. It is prudent to follow the gracious word of God. Prudence is practical skill or wisdom. Life on earth requires wisdom or skill in practicality. Employers prefer skillful applicants over smart with high grades but newly graduated people, why?

Skilled applicants have proven their capability while new graduates have not tested yet, if their head knowledge is essential to their job. The prudent has tested, practiced and applied head knowledge. Likewise, we have to personally explore, venture into and experience our knowledge about God. Our personal experience with Christ is what we testify for him.

Reflect on Ephesians 4:11-12, ¹¹Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

Teachers or pastors should have personal experience with Christ to equip the church. Anyone can teach ideas about Christ, but when teaching the church, it is preferable to have personal adventure with Christ. Anyone can use online tools and present impressive lessons but pastors, teachers who testify of their personal adventure with Christ are more convincing.

We can learn from what it narrated about Nicodemus in John 3:1-2.

            ¹Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. ² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

Nicodemus was a Pharisee. He had doctoral in Jewish Law. He was smart that he preferred to learn from the Master Teacher Jesus Christ. He was certain that he can learn more about God from Christ because he saw that Christ practically performed miracles that professors in the seminary of Pharisees cannot do. Reflect on what Christ declared in John 14:26, ²⁶The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Life is challenging. It is prudent and wise to smartly explore our faith in Jesus Christ. How? We pray to be filled by the Holy Spirit and refreshed by the Fountain of life.The Fountain of Life is everlasting life and divine sustenance we can explore and venture into by faith in Jesus Christ.

><))’> ><))’> tmec\2026 <‘((>< <‘((><