How do you respond when you're corrected? Do you defend yourself or listen and consider what someone is saying?
Most of us dread being corrected and we don't enjoy correcting others. But correction is absolutely necessary for growth and maturity in every area of life, especially our faith.
Our modern culture shuns correction and focuses on praise and affirmation. We see the results everywhere as people become more self-centered and proud, unable to handle relationship difficulties and rejecting anything involving self-denial.
Culture emphasizes affirmation. Scripture emphasizes correction:
- Proverbs 15:31: If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise.
- Proverbs 25:12: Like an earring of gold or an ornament of fine gold is the rebuke of a wise judge to a listening ear.
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17: All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
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The greatest enemy to correction is the self-esteem philosophies that have influenced both culture and the church. I encourage you to read 6 Ways the Self-Esteem Movement Contradicts Scripture and Research Shows Harms of High Self-Esteem.
Great lesson. Thank for the link to the singing competitions . So I can explain things to my daughter now.
ReplyDeleteJesus put this on my heart last night at intercessory prayer, pastor spoke about how we need to be engaged in prayer how it starts with praise and worship and we need to be focused. The enemy tries to distract us because we are praying for people we do not even know. At first I wanted to shrug it off thinking "I got this" but the Lord told me to listen, He was lovingly correcting me because the Spirit Of Us through me and miracles happen. God is good, and thank you for the confirmation.
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