Kingdom Do’s & Don’ts—Disciple Makers Series #7Sample

Don’t Correct Hypocritically 

Correcting wrong behaviour. This is not judging. But it must be done properly.

First, correcting behaviour is always based on things we observe: “I saw you do this, I heard you say that, I saw you go here.” This is the way discipline must be handled with children. We correct their behaviour based on what we see/hear/watch them do. It is never to be based on what we think happened.

Second, the purpose of correction is always restoration and preventing this happening in the future. So it is never punishment (that is the result of judging—God takes care of that). It is to help future behaviour.

Third, do not correct others when there is bad (or even worse) behaviour in our own lives. We will not have credibility to tell people to stop if we are doing the same or worse!

Fourth, do not shy away from helping people deal with problems. Just do it right. Also, remember that God does not deal with every problem people have all at once— He works on one or two at a time. So be careful not to try and correct something that God is not working on. That takes a lot of maturity and wisdom.

Time to pray

Father, thank you for providing wisdom on how to deal with wrong behaviour. There is much I need to learn and much I need to do so that I can correct properly. Also, help me to encourage others to correct with integrity and wisdom. It takes so much wisdom to correct at the right time and in the right way. Help each of us today to also be open for correction – that is every bit as important today as being able to correct others properly. Give us humble hearts capable of receiving Your correction. In Jesus’ name Amen.