Ouch...That Hurt!!

Proverbs 20:30 -" Blows that hurt cleanse away evil, As do stripes the inner depths of the heart."

No one likes to be told they are wrong.  Especially in a situation where you know deep down inside you really have been wrong.  It is easier to be the one wronged, even though it hurts, I believe it hurts worse when someone brings it to my attention that I was wrong. 

Proverbs 20:30 says that blows that hurt cleanse away evil.  I have a friend who tells it like it is.  I told her of something I had done recently and her reaction told me immediately that I had done something wrong.  Even though I kind of already knew that, I was also kind of hoping she'd agree with what I had done so I could feel better about myself.  We laughed and I insisted that she stop punching me with heartfelt blows and only tell me what I wanted to hear!  Of course I didn't mean that but isn't that the way we face most of our own wrongs, our sin?  We call sin everything but what it is.  We have drug addicts, sex addicts, porn addicts, alcoholics, mental issues; we are mean to our children - oh I'm just exhausted - we yell at our spouses - I have PMS - we are estranged from our families - they're too difficult to deal with - we are unethical in our workplace - my boss is a jerk -  and the list of "problem" issues go on and on.  All of these things are real, real people deal with them on a daily basis, even REAL Christians.  But the problem is we have fallen into a trap that allows us to lable ourselves just as the world does.  Instead of facing our issues as sin we just brush them under the rug and move on. 

A good friend will not let you continue to live in sin if they are a real friend.  They will "beat you up" with the truth so that the evil can be cleansed away from your life.  They will speak to the inner part of your heart.  They will not be fearful of your reaction because they care about your heart.  If you find yourself hurting from the faithful wounds of a friend thank them for being honest with you instead of chalking them off to being inconsiderate of your feelings.  And if you are a friend who needs to pack a couple punches but are afraid to share the truth, take this advice from my "coach"...why would you be afraid to deliver the truth?