As it is common with most children, my younger daughter often makes some funny statements when she’s corrected. She would say something like; “I will not be your friend again.” But she would still end up coming back to play with that same person. I learnt not to fight correction.
Friend, how often do you fight correction and instruments of correction in your life? Listen, the real opposite of love is not hatred. It is indifference. If someone ever gives up on you or is indifferent about your life and behavior, that person really does not love you. None of us is perfect; we would sometimes do wrong. But the mechanism of correction is God’s way of aligning us (Hebrews 12:7-8).
Until you are corrected your life cannot be correct. Aside instruction, doctrine, motivation etc., the word of God has been given to us as an instrument of correction and rebuke (2 Timothy 3:16). If you are only interested in the juicy part of the word of God without embracing the painful, corrective part of it, then you are still a child (1 Corinthians 13:11).
Like my daughter, if you cut off relationship with your corrector or maintain some unsafe distance from that person, you are only showing how childish you are (Galatians 4:16). Don’t make someone your enemy because he told you the truth.
The correction may be painful, but embrace it; it would yield a peaceable fruit of righteousness if you are trained by it (Hebrews 12:11). Don’t only go to where you are celebrated; also go to where you are corrected. The former motivates you while the latter aligns you.
Correction must be done in love (Ephesians 4:15). People must see the love in our correction so they won’t misinterpret it for hatred. Love cushions the painful effect of correction. However, if someone does not correct you in love, still yield to the correction; get the lesson and forgive the person and his method. What is most important is that you are changed. May your life be correct. Amen!
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria