2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching,
rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
Today, let us focus is the dual yet harmonious process of
correction and encouragement, a spiritual dance, if you will, that is integral
to our journey of faith. The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to Timothy,
beautifully encapsulates the purpose of God's Word – to instruct, to reprove,
to correct, and to train. Let us pause and reflect on the role of correction in
our spiritual journey.
Correction, dear ones, is not a sign of disapproval or
rejection; it is, rather, an expression of God's immense love for us. It is the
loving act of a Heavenly Father who desires to see His children grow and mature
in righteousness. Proverbs 3:12 tells us, "the LORD corrects those he
loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights." God's
correction is not intended to discourage or condemn us; it steers us away from
paths of destruction and guide us towards paths of life.
However, correction alone is not sufficient. Encouragement
must accompany it. Encouragement is like a soothing balm that heals the wounds
of correction. It lifts our spirits, strengthens our resolve, and propels us
forward on our journey of faith. It reminds us of God's unfailing love, His
unchanging promises, and His unwavering faithfulness.
The Apostle Paul, a man well acquainted with both correction
and encouragement, exhorts us in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore
encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."
Encouragement is not merely a suggestion; it is a divine mandate. We are called
not only to receive encouragement, but also to extend it to others.
In the process of correction, there may be moments of
discomfort, moments when we feel the sting of our shortcomings and the weight
of our failures. Yet, it is in these moments that encouragement shines the
brightest. It illuminates the hope of redemption, the promise of grace, and the
assurance of God's unfailing love.
Beloved, as we journey together in faith, let us embrace
both correction and encouragement. Let us welcome God's loving correction,
knowing that it is for our good. And let us readily extend encouragement to one
another, knowing that it has the power to uplift and edify.
Remember, we are not alone on this journey. Hebrews 12:1-2
encourages us to "run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."
Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, has already run this race and emerged victorious.
He is our greatest encourager, our most loving corrector, and our surest guide.
So, let us run this race with determination, accepting
correction with humility, and offering encouragement with generosity. Let us
uplift one another, bearing each other's burdens and so fulfilling the law of
Christ (Galatians 6:2).
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may, with one voice, glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15:5-6).