Saturday, 18th March 2023
Andrews Ampomah
TOPIC: CORRECT ONE ANOTHER IN LOVE
THEME SCRIPTURE: “Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, in all purity.” - 1 Timothy 5:1-2
PREPARATORY QUESTION:
- How well do you respond to correction?
I have come across several times and have heard many times when in trying to point out the sin or deviation of a brother, one is faced with the reply, “the Bible says do not judge.” There seems to be confusion about the word “judge” in the context of a Christian’s responsibility to point out the sin of a fellow Christian. To judge is to determine the punishment for another man’s wrong. For instance, to say that someone will burn in hell is to pass judgement. But correction has to do with pointing out where another man’s action departs from the right way and how he can come back on track. So it is not wrong to tell your brother in Christ that you are wrong according to the instructions of God for our faith living.
Brethren in Christ, the Bible is clear on the responsibility of Christians to make sure that fellows are rightly corrected to steer them to holiness.
As part of handing down a set of instructions to guide the Church life to Timothy, Paul emphasizes the need to not “…rebuke an older man but to encourage…” This doesn't mean that sin or reckless behaviour must be encouraged or allowed to continue among believers. Indeed, in Luke’s gospel he writes “If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him (Luke 17:3).” Rebuking or correcting a brother in love is highly encouraged by the scriptures.
Our Christian walk is progressive through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Sometimes we take our eyes off who we are, who we live for and how we are accountable when we appear before God. As such, we behave below God’s standard for the believer. Don’t overlook the sin of the brethren in the name of avoiding being tagged as having passed judgement on another.
How can we become better, and move from strength to strength and grace to grace if we cannot correct each other in love?
In light of the above, Paul however sets the standard by which this should be done to older men, younger men, older women and younger women. He encourages great respect for ourselves no matter how grave the sin of a fellow Christian is. In seeing older men as parents, he by this does not discourage correction but to always do so respectfully, according older men the respect due a parent. In the same manner, younger men as brothers and older women as mothers.
Correction to the younger women should be done, honouring them as sisters. It is striking to note that the correction of younger sisters should be done with purity.
Paul, by the Spirit, cautions Timothy to be sensitive to his role in correcting or encouraging the sisters to be done in purity, erasing all suspicious behaviours that will bring an accusation to his office as a leader.
Beloved in Christ Jesus, it is your responsibility to conduct yourself in a manner worthy of your Christian identity. It is equally your responsibility to rebuke, correct and encourage with all due respect fellow believers who may go wrong. This must always be done in love and truth. Hallelujah!
FURTHER READING – Mathew 18:15-20
QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:
- Are there people in your life you have not showed them love, by correcting and bringing them on God’s track?
- How are you going to ensure that from henceforth love is seen in your corrections by all?
CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, grant me the strength and courage to correct my Christian fellows in truth and love. Dear Holy Spirit, grant me wisdom in all such situations so that the end of every such correct ends up in the building of our faith in Christ Jesus, Amen.
1-Year Bible Reading Plan
Leviticus 26; Psalms 137; Psalms 138; Psalms 139; Luke 9
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