Embracing Spiritual Correction: Unveiling Growth and Unity in Faith
March 12 Nehemiah 2-3, 1 Corinthians 16; Proverbs 8
We don’t often think of Paul or his letters to the churches for what they are. Yes, these letters make up much of our New Testament. And yes, these letters comprise our Christian doctrine and understanding of the Gospels. We’ve wrestled through them. Some argue over their interpretation. But besides all that, we need to remember that these epistles are also this: a man writing letters to his friends.
Paul wasn’t writing to strangers. He was writing to people he knew. People he loved. He was talking to people he had led into reconciliation. People he discipled. There’s something sweet about remembering this truth.
When Paul is confronting sin and error, he’s confronting people he loved. He was correcting them like a good father. He was correcting them, and us, if we will hear him, like a winning coach, who wanted more than anything to see them collect their crown at the end of the race.
I don’t know about you, but spiritual correction is hard. Most of the time, I don’t like it. I think it’s mostly because of how I perceive correction. I don’t want to be off. I don’t want to be wrong. And so when correction comes, I receive it as an indictment. And because of that, it hurts. I’m sure a few of you reading this will be able to relate.
However, when I think back to some of my favorite memories, many of them involve great coaches. I was on a crew team in high school and then all through college. If you aren’t familiar, think of that new movie that came out called “Boys in the Boat.” Anyway, I love this sport. I love the physicality of it, and I loved the teammates and goals. I loved the winning! But I also really loved my coaches.
Good coaches give constant feedback. They give lots of correction. They pushed us and worked us until we couldn’t keep going. They signed us up against teams who were bigger and stronger and better than we were. And they made us better by correction until we could compete against the best. The correction I received was necessary! And I loved those men and women for investing in me.
I say all that to say this: We need those in the Body who will invest their correction in love. Raise up those mothers and fathers in the faith who will not shrink back from doing their job in our lives. Right? We need the true apostolic mothers and fathers to arise so that the church, joined to Jesus, can be led in His triumphal procession.
Ok. Not even my point for today. But it was good, right?
Here’s what jumped out at me from the reading.
1 Corinthians 16: 5 “But I will come to you after I go through Macedonia; for I am going through Macedonia, 6 and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may send me on my way wherever I go. 7 For I do not want to see you now just in passing; for I hope to remain with you for some time, if the Lord permits. 8 But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost; 9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
Paul has crucified his worldly perspective. He doesn’t look at the door to effective ministry the way many of us would. Look at this again.
“9 for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”
In an age where we measure effective ministry by the numbers or the money or the reach of influence, Paul used another measurement. Effective ministry comes with many adversaries. This is the truth. And the measure concerning which door is for us, or which door is for now, is whether or not we are in the will of the Lord. That’s it.
Our eyes, the outcome, the numbers, the finances… none of that means anything about whether we are in an effective door of ministry. What have we heard from God, and are we doing that? This is the only thing that matters.
As for me, today, I’m thanking God for my parents, coaches, and great teachers over the years, especially those who gave correction. I’m thanking Paul for saying the stuff, especially the hard stuff. We need it. And I’m especially thanking our Father, who helps us every day.
Deepening Faith: Reflective Journal Prompts
- Reflect on a time when you received spiritual correction or guidance that was difficult to accept at the moment. How did it shape your understanding of faith and your relationship with God?
- Consider Paul’s approach to addressing the churches and individuals in his letters. How does knowing that these were messages between friends influence your interpretation of biblical teachings?
- Think about the role of mentors, coaches, or spiritual leaders in your life. How have their corrections or guidance contributed to your personal growth and spiritual journey? Share a specific instance where their influence was particularly impactful.
- Reflect on the concept of effective ministry as described by Paul—marked not by numbers or success but by challenges and adversaries. How does this perspective change your view of what it means to serve and be faithful in your context?
- Ponder the idea of being part of a spiritual family or community where correction is given and received in love. How can you contribute to creating such an environment within your own church or faith community? What steps can you take to become more open to receiving correction and guidance from others?
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