HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO CORRECTION?
"To accept correction is wise, to reject it is stupid"
Proverbs 12:1 CEV
Recently, I ran across an interesting story about the popular Christian worship leader, Matt Redman. Early in his career, Redman was singing with his church's praise band when his pastor confronted them. He felt the band was proud of their musical performance and were neglecting true worship. Without question, that was a stinging rebuke, a heavy dose of needed correction. Insulted by the charge, the members of the band left the church—all, that is, except Redman.
Redman responded wisely to the correction, and shortly thereafter wrote his hit song "The Heart of Worship." The song contains these powerful lyrics, "I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about you, Jesus."
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION
Let me ask you an important question: How do you respond to correction? What is your reaction when someone points out some failing area in your life? To be sure, correction is akin to having one’s toes stepped on. It will illicit a response. What kind of response is the issue.
1. Some respond to correction with anger. The underlying attitude here is one of wounded pride. “How dare you lecture me! Who do you think you are!?” No doubt, that was the attitude of Redman’s band mates when their pastor stepped on their toes.
2. Some respond to correction with attack. This is anger turned up a notch, anger with aggression. “Oh, is that so? Well, let me tell you all the things you do wrong, pal!” Since the best defense is a good offense, the one who responds this way quickly goes on the offensive to turn the spotlight away from his/her own failings.
3. Some respond to correction with dismissal. These folks quickly dismiss any correction as bogus, unwarranted, and unfounded. Listen, if one person calls you a horse’s rear end, you may dismiss it as pure meanness. If two people call you that, you need to take note. If three people call you that, buy a saddle.
4. Some respond to correction with retreat. Once again, wounded pride comes in to play. “Obviously, you don’t like me. I guess I will just take my toys and go home.”
5. Some respond to correction with implosion. “I am a terrible person. I can’t do anything right. The world would be better off without me.”
6. God wants you to respond to correction with wisdom. It is good practice to take every stinging rebuke and word of correction to the Lord to see if He reveals any merit to the charge. I have found that my enemies will tell me things that my friends will not. Oftentimes, those things can be helpful in dealing with blind spots.
Listen, the Christian life is a journey, not a destination. It is all about learning and growing. God’s Word is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). As we read His word and hear it preached, we will be convicted and corrected so that we can make necessary course adjustments. Don’t despise and reject Spirit-sent reproof. God is giving you loving correction to help you grow, flourish, and get things right. It is for your good, not for your harm. If you don’t believe me, just ask Matt Redman.
Love,
Pastor Jeff Schreve,
From His Heart Ministries
Dr. Jeff Schreve believes that no matter how badly you may have messed up in life, God still loves you and has a wonderful plan just for you. From His Heart provides real truth, love and hope on over 700 radio stations each day, in 182 countries each week on TV, and is always available online. Pastor Jeff takes no income from this ministry. All donations go to furthering the broadcast outreach. As a listener/viewer supported ministry, we thank you for joining with us to help speak the truth in love to a lost and hurting world. Go to www.fromhisheart.org for more information.
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