Proverbs 9

Proverbs 9:8:

8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

Proverbs 9:8 (ESV)

 

This verse is highlighted to me today, as I'm at Preview Days for Mid-America Baptist Seminary.  I'm hoping to finish my M.Div. through their distance learning program here, and wanted to take the opportunity to come see the new campus.

 

You see, I attended this seminary before.  I didn't finish, and I don't know that we parted on the best of terms.  I, personally, left upset.  I don't think anyone with the seminary noticed I left.

 

Some of what I learned and received while I was here the first time was easy, and some was hard.  Some was encouraging, and there was some that easily qualifies as a rebuke or as being reproved.  What's reproved?  Corrected, shown the truth in contrast to your own ideas.

 

I didn't always take kindly to the reproval.  Point of fact, I left here with very little love for MABTS or for several professors.

 

Now, I'm back, hoping they'll take me back, realizing that one of the things I need is to learn, to grow, and to build the relationships that seminary fosters.  Will I get some reproval while I'm at it?  I'm fairly certain I will.  I'm also certain that I need it.

 

All to that say, I'm hoping this is evidence I'm maturing a little, moving past the fool and into the wise man a bit better.  I know I need that more than the Greek or the Hebrew, although I really want all the learning I can stand.

 

Doug