Daily Devotions
Correcting in the Proper Way
Reading for August 31st: Ezekiel 5-8
Weekly reading for August 30-September 5: Titus & 2 Timothy
And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
2 Timothy 2:24-26
Sometimes we need to talk to a brother or sister who is sinning or needs correction for some reason. This is a dangerous position for us to be in since it's so easy to be filled with pride when doing this (Matthew 7:1-4; Galatians 6:1-2). Paul gives sound advice in this passage on how to correct someone in the proper way.
First, we must not be quarrelsome but kind. We must never needlessly offend or insult. We must avoid judging hearts, always assigning the best possible motives to any action (Matthew 7:1; 1 Corinthians 13:7).
Second, we must correct with gentleness. We cannot compromise the truth for the sake of someone's feelings, but at the same time we must not use the Word as a club. We must speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).
Finally, we must not be haughty or self-righteous. We must look at the one we are correcting in mercy, seeing them as captives of the devil who have been deceived. Our goal is not to put them in their place but to snatch them out of the clutches of our adversary.
Father God, when we must correct someone give us courage to say what needs to be said, but also wisdom and mercy to say it in the right way.
