Today's encouragement comes from Proverbs 18:17, which says this:
"The first one to plead his cause seems right, until his neighbor comes and examines him."This verse reminds us that it is always prudent to check out both sides of every story, before drawing any final conclusions. Tale-bearers and slander-ers can sound quite convincing, until the full picture comes into view. Our flesh nature is too inclined to hear only what it wants to hear; and sometimes we get humbled by the truth.
If we were to listen exclusively to those who hate our Lord Jesus Christ and His gospel of free grace, where would any of us be today? Thankfully, by God's mercy, we have been able to discern the "rest of the story," which ren-ders Jesus totally and completely lovely to us (who are in His true church).
[Puritan quote of the day: "There is a sanctified use of all the troubles that come to God's children.” —Richard Sibbes, in, "The Soul's Conflict with It-self"]
