Wait, what now? Delight in God’s correction? I remember some powerful statements about loving and caring from a speaker I admired in my past leadership years; “Care enough to confront so that those you teach do not crash and fall.” “Only someone who loves and cares deeply, with the love of Christ in them, is qualified to speak words of truth in our walks because they desire nothing more than God’s best for you.” His message was an explanation of what it means to work and walk in unity as the Body of Christ.
The Apostle Paul also compassionately spoke how truth was to be delivered by leaders devoted to God;
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”—Paul to the church then and applys to the church now. Ephesians 4:11-16, NIV
Effective leaders are learners. I have experienced this truth as well as walked this truth. When I say what I think without the guidance of God, I’m simply a clanging symbol of judgement—not of love. God blesses those who lean into His wisdom, insight, and understanding. It is God who leads us at times to speak His Words, with a Spirit of Love, to confront a friend who is being led astray from God. But this comes with a warning label: We must be so very careful to examine our own hearts and motivations of our minds. Do we want our dear friends to become more like us or more like the Christ we love and serve? “Each part does its own work” and that work is led by God.
God is the ultimate judge. We are not. His Holy Spirit convicts. We are merely His servants to lead others to the wisdom of God when we confront. We take them to God’s Word and gently study together what He says is good and right. His Spirit does the rest. Sometimes, many times, we are not needed to speak at all—only to encourage with a loving Spirit.
What we mean is this; if you are simply annoyed or angered by someone’s habits, you are not the one to confront. Confrontation comes only from a Holy Spirit-led heart of Love for our dear friends. Truth words come from the love of God in us.
Jesus recognized those who “hung on every word” from God through Him. This phrase comes from New Testament accounts of people listening intently to Jesus. In Luke 19:48 records that the religious leaders could not harm Jesus because all the people stayed close and hung on his words. People listened and learned from Jesus because they knew somehow this was Truth who compassionately loved their souls. Someone who loves that deeply and greatly is listened to with awe and wonder.
Mary, for example, sat at the feet of Jesus to listen intently to His teaching, “hanging on every word” He said, while her sister Martha worked on preparing the meal. Jesus commended Mary for choosing the better posture to take—as one listening to learn. (Luke 10:29)
The very definition, in fact of the word “disciple” is “one who learns”.
We have also read, “God disciplines those He loves” which appears in God’s Word to us in Hebrews 12:6 (which quotes Proverbs 3:11–12). God, Our Father in heaven, desires His best for us. Divine discipline is not an act of hostile wrath or rejection; rather, it acts as proof of genuine sonship. A parent disciplines a child because they belong to them; lacking discipline indicates a lack of relationship!
Heed Our Father’s discipline for “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17
Discipline is not a bad word or action. Discipline is part of the learning process for life to the full with the Father.
If You Love Learning
12 If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it—
how shortsighted to refuse correction!
2 A good person basks in the delight of God,
and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.
3 You can’t find firm footing in a swamp,
but life rooted in God stands firm.
4 A hearty wife invigorates her husband,
but a frigid woman is cancer in the bones.
5 The thinking of principled people makes for justice;
the plots of degenerates corrupt.
6 The words of the wicked kill;
the speech of the upright saves.
7 Wicked people fall to pieces—there’s nothing to them;
the homes of good people hold together.
8 A person who talks sense is honored;
airheads are held in contempt.
9 Better to be ordinary and work for a living
than act important and starve in the process.
10 Good people are good to their animals;
the “good-hearted” bad people kick and abuse them.
11 The one who stays on the job has food on the table;
the witless chase whims and fancies.
12 What the wicked construct finally falls into ruin,
while the roots of the righteous give life, and more life.
Wise People Take Advice
13 The gossip of bad people gets them in trouble;
the conversation of good people keeps them out of it.
14 Well-spoken words bring satisfaction;
well-done work has its own reward.
15 Fools are headstrong and do what they like;
wise people take advice.
16 Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly;
the prudent quietly shrug off insults.
17 Truthful witness by a good person clears the air,
but liars lay down a smoke screen of deceit.
18 Rash language cuts and maims,
but there is healing in the words of the wise.
19 Truth lasts;
lies are here today, gone tomorrow.
20 Evil scheming distorts the schemer;
peace-planning brings joy to the planner.
21 No evil can overwhelm a good person,
but the wicked have their hands full of it.
22 God can’t stomach liars;
he loves the company of those who keep their word.
23 Prudent people don’t flaunt their knowledge;
talkative fools broadcast their silliness.
24 The diligent find freedom in their work;
the lazy are oppressed by work.
25 Worry weighs us down;
a cheerful word picks us up.
26 A good person survives misfortune,
but a wicked life invites disaster.
27 A lazy life is an empty life,
but “early to rise” gets the job done.
28 Good men and women travel right into life;
sin’s detours take you straight to hell.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
The more we learn; the more we learn we do not know. But that’s okay. We cannot know all there is to know about God on earth; but there is a day coming when we will see Him face to face in all His glory. He will not judge us on what we failed to learn; but will recognize what we did with what we did learn. Seek justice, love mercy, walk humbly with God. Allow God’s Holy Spirit living in us to confront, convict, and correct us as we walk humbly with Him. Accept His loving discipline.
Surrender to God’s discipline for this is sign of our growing, intimate, loving relationship with our Father in Heaven through Jesus is Son who died for our sins and rose again to give us hope of eternal life with Him.
Lord,
I believe. I’m yours. I’m listening and learning still. Teach me your will for all my trust is in you. I know there is so much more to learn about you. May your love guide my thoughts, words, and actions.
In Jesus Name, Amen
