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Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense. Proverbs 19:11 AMPC
In 1985, “the Boss” reached number five on the pop charts with “Glory Days.” Bruce Springsteen sang of encountering a high school classmate, and all the guy could talk about were his long-ago exploits on the baseball diamond. Glory days, Springsteen concluded, will “pass you by.”
The Proverbs, though, offer a way to keep the glory going: by overlooking the offensive behavior of other people. This kind of “transgression” is never ending, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities for glory.
“Good sense”—or, in other translations, “wisdom”—causes men to hold back their angry responses. Not responding to irritations, insults, and imbecility is “glory,” a translation of a Hebrew word connoting bravery and honor. Jesus perfectly pictured today’s scripture in the final hours of His life: “When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but He trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly” (1 Peter 2:23).
Nothing could be more lastingly glorious than to imitate our perfect Savior. Let the world do what it does so well; then trust God to do what He does so well—provide the good sense to respond like Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, when I grow annoyed, speak and act through me—to Your glory and mine.
In 1985, “the Boss” reached number five on the pop charts with “Glory Days.” Bruce Springsteen sang of encountering a high school classmate, and all the guy could talk about were his long-ago exploits on the baseball diamond. Glory days, Springsteen concluded, will “pass you by.”
The Proverbs, though, offer a way to keep the glory going: by overlooking the offensive behavior of other people. This kind of “transgression” is never ending, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities for glory.
“Good sense”—or, in other translations, “wisdom”—causes men to hold back their angry responses. Not responding to irritations, insults, and imbecility is “glory,” a translation of a Hebrew word connoting bravery and honor. Jesus perfectly pictured today’s scripture in the final hours of His life: “When He was reviled and insulted, He did not revile or offer insult in return; [when] He was abused and suffered, He made no threats [of vengeance]; but He trusted [Himself and everything] to Him Who judges fairly” (1 Peter 2:23).
Nothing could be more lastingly glorious than to imitate our perfect Savior. Let the world do what it does so well; then trust God to do what He does so well—provide the good sense to respond like Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, when I grow annoyed, speak and act through me—to Your glory and mine.
