Loving Rebuke

1 Timothy 1-4 

“…command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer nor…endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work - which is by faith. The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

1 Timothy 1:3-5

When correction or a rebuke is required for the sake of someone’s spiritual health or the health of the Church, motive is important and it will be quickly picked up by the recipient. Paul expressed the goal of his rebuke was love and his instruction came from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith. Those are a number of qualities for our own lives that we can talk about with the Lord, before we talk to others. It takes great humility, love, and courage to rebuke another disciple of Christ so that offence is not taken. Paul was counselling Timothy, and us, to do this well. A Church where no correction is offered is a Church that is vulnerable to deception, conflict, and immaturity.

Are we open to both receiving and sharing rebukes, in love?

“Lord Jesus, thank you for loving me enough to confront my sin, for your glory.”