April 15, 2026 -- Proverbs 9:7-9 -- Who is the teachable person in your life?

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
Proverbs 9:7-9 ESV
 
Perhaps you know Psalm 1? The man who is blessed by the LORD and is happy in serving Him, does not sit in company with scoffers. A scoffer jeers at wisdom. A scoffer is ten times wiser in his own eyes than any other man. A scoffer has a ready answer for anything…but his replies are self-important nonsense. What the proverbs are teaching here is that a person who is wise in Jesus, filled with the Spirit must know who is listening. If a believer is speaking to a scoffer, to a wicked person who is holding tightly to evil, there is no point in trying to offer correction. A scoffer will mock. A wicked person will retaliate and try to extinguish the light of Christ.
 
However, you will find that there are people in your life who have been softened by the Holy Spirit. There are scoffers who are suddenly softer, less inclined to reject what you say. There are wicked men who have been halted in their violence and are suddenly teachable. The man of wisdom, and the woman who is wise unto the LORD will take the opportunity to teach that person while he is open, willing to hear.
 
Not that long ago I met a man who was terribly angry. But when I taught the bible lesson, he paid attention. After class he found he couldn’t help but ask questions. This went on for several lessons. He opted to be in the bible class. He decided to listen, though his spirit still raged. Thanks be to God, one week ago he submitted himself to God. The change is so dramatic. He is happy. He is reading his Bible at a wonderful clip. He is at peace. He can receive love from God. He is increasing in learning.
 
The man or woman who is in the grip of grace is deeply loved by the Father, and the Son. From out of this rich resource of love, guarded deep in the soul, mind and heart, the believer overflows with love for those all around. The presence of God is in you is compelling to sinners softened by the Holy Spirit. But the powerful presence of God will also draw detractors, scoffers, people who want to be justified in their own eyes. Be discerning. In short order you’ll know who is unreachable, distinguishing this person from that other person who is humble and teachable.
 
There are folks in the pews near you who are not Christians. They need you to be ready to give instruction in righteousness, doing so with patience and kindness. There are people at work, or school, or in your community group, who need to be instructed in ways of Jesus. There are youth, caught in the chaos of today’s culture, who are looking for the anchor of Christ’s love that would ground them in the Father’s love. Are you prepared to teach, to endure some strong push-back, but to persist anyways, knowing there is a glowing ember set on fire from the altar of God?
 
Father in heaven, Your word teaches that the one who wins souls is wise. As you have captured my soul and heart by the reconciling work of Jesus, so I pray for the people You have put in my life. Let me be a soul-winner for Jesus. Spirit of God, show me the person, or people, you have placed in my life who are ready to be instructed in righteousness. Spirit of the Living God, for those who are new, infants in the faith, give me a loving, patient, holy desire to keep instructing such people until they too are soul-winners for Jesus. Thank You, Glorious God of Salvation, that You work in and through ordinary men and women, to spread the Good News of Jesus. Amen.
 
https://youtu.be/FcD9uhRC3Ew?si=FW6hftkh6mg9InhA Go Light Your World
 

Copyright © 2026 Sh'ma Christian Ministries, All rights reserved.