Wounds That Build and Heal 既能造就又能医治的创伤

[Dexu Xia]

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. Psalm 141:5

Today's Scripture

Today's Insights  Scripture has much to say about the power of our words. A familiar New Testament passages is James 3:1-12. According to James, keeping control of our tongue is difficult. However, before we lose hope in being able to speak good words to one another, consider what David says in Psalm 141. 

Here, tucked in the middle of his other requests, the psalmist asks God to “set a guard over [his] mouth” (v. 3). He desires to live a life that contrasts with the evildoers around him (v. 4), a life that welcomes words of truth from others. He says, “Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head” (v. 5). Today, God can help us use our words well and speak truthfully to others.

Today's Devotion  According to research, Gen Z can detect a false compliment from a mile away. While the intention might be kindness, the members of that generation value something deeper: genuine respect and honesty. Not looking to be flattered, they want to be believed in. When truth is spoken, they feel respected, taken seriously, and are challenged to grow. But this is likely true for most of us.

Psalm 141:5 gives voice to this wisdom. David wrote, “Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me.” In his prayer to God, he asks that he would welcome loving wounds from friends as kindness (v. 5; see also Proverbs 27:6). David was intimating that real love doesn’t dodge difficult conversations. It tells the truth, not to shame people but to help them be drawn to God and not “be drawn to what is evil” (Psalm 141:4). This passage reminds us that wise, truthful feedback isn’t about tearing others down but building them up.

Let’s not fear receiving correction from the right sources, and let’s not shy away from offering it either. We don’t need more sugarcoated words. We need people who are willing to speak the truth in love. Sometimes the words that sting the most are the ones that build us, heal us, and help us become who God made us to be.

Reflect & Pray

Why can it be hard to offer correction to other believers? How do you respond to loving correction from others?

Dear God, please help me to give and receive wise feedback and correction as gifts of Your grace. By Marvin Williams

“任凭义人击打我，这算为仁慈；任凭他责备我，这算为头上的膏油。”（诗篇 141:5 ）

今日经文 ：诗篇 141篇

今日感悟：圣经中有许多关于言语力量的教导。新约中一段为人熟知的经文是雅各书 3章1-12节。雅各指出，要管好自己的舌头并非易事。然而，在我们因无法对彼此说出良言而灰心之前，不妨看看大卫在诗篇 141篇中的话语。 在这篇诗中，诗人夹杂着其他的祈求，向神呼求“看守[他]的口”（3节）。他渴望过一种与周围作恶之人截然不同的生活（4节），一种乐意接纳他人诚实劝诫的生活。他说：“任凭义人击打我，这算为仁慈；任凭他责备我，这算为头上的膏油”（5节）。今天，神能帮助我们善用言语，并向他人说诚实话。

  今日灵修：研究表明，Z世代（“网生代”）的人一眼就能识破虚伪的恭维。尽管对方的初衷可能是出于善意，但这一代人更看重深层的东西：真诚的尊重与坦诚。他们不求阿谀奉承，只求获得信任。当听到真话时，他们会感到受尊重、被重视，并受到激励去成长。其实，这对我们大多数人来说也是如此。 诗篇 141篇5节道出了这一智慧。大卫写道：“任凭义人击打我，这算为仁慈；任凭他责备我……”他在向神的祷告中祈求，愿自己能将朋友出于爱心的责备（即“创伤”）视为一种仁慈（5节；参阅箴言 27:6）。大卫以此表明，真正的爱不会回避艰难的对话。爱会说出真话，其目的并非羞辱他人，而是帮助人归向神，不至于“偏向邪恶的事”（诗篇 141:4）。这段经文提醒我们：明智且诚实的反馈，其目的不在于贬低他人，而在于造就他人。让我们既不惧怕接受来自正当渠道的指正，也不回避向他人提出的指正。我们不需要更多粉饰太平的甜言蜜语，而是需要那些愿意用爱心说诚实话的人。有时，那些听起来最刺耳的话语，恰恰能造就我们、医治我们，并帮助我们活出神所赋予的样式。

 反思与祷告 为何向其他信徒提出指正有时会很困难？当面对他人出于爱心的指正时，你会作何反应？

 亲爱的神，求祢帮助我，让我能将明智的反馈与指正视为祢恩典的礼物，既能给予他人，也能从他人领受。作者：马文·威廉姆斯