Loving and Correcting

Love is the greatest. We are commanded to love God and love people. We are exhorted to MAKE LOVE OUR HIGHEST GOAL (1 Cor 14:1 NLT). When we love we become the light that shines in the dark, salt that stops decay or corruption. We become a testimony to God who is love.

• John Townsend has a simple definition of love:- Seeking and doing the best for another


• When we say God loves us, God is….seeking and doing what is best for us, that help us connect, grow and heal

The LOVE of God:

We love because God first loved us. The love of God is shown in the cross of Jesus. (1 John 4:9-10)

From His cross flows His love that is able to do 2 things for us:

• 1. The Power to HEAL the offended (wounded) & to make whole


• 2. The Power to FORGIVE the offender & Power of RIGHTEOUSNESS

This is tied to 2 aspects of Love:

• 1. CARING for those who are wounded, who got hurt by others or are offended. We care and bring to them the grace of Jesus to heal their wounds and make them whole.


• 2. CORRECTING those who sin against others, who need repentance, to change, to grow into Christ-likeness, to be mature and righteous

The CORRECTING aspect of love is just as important as CARING. Without correcting in love that brings discipline (discipleship is just this) and change into Christlikeness, we will not grow up or grow mature to become a greater testimony and witness for Jesus. This aspect of loving by correcting or discipline is what needs to be developed.

There are 3 AREAS we can help DISCIPLE each other:

• BEHAVIOUR – e.g. always late, never volunteer to help, spend too much money, control others by intimidation, drink too much, drive too fast


• SPEECH – e.g. critical words, silence & passivity, laughing at people’s mistakes, inability to share personal matters


• ATTITUDES – ways we look at life and relationships; e.g. pride – look down on others, laziness, blaming others for problems, too hard on oneself, being negative about everything

“Wrong” Love”

Often in the name of love we have actually made things worse for the one we love. E.g. the story of a 16 year old who was “spoilt” by parents who in the name of love gave him everything he wanted, gave in to all his demands and had no discipline for him or boundaries for his life. This boy now just plays computer at home, refuses to go to school or even go out of his room. If someone from young always gets what he wants – he is being “trained” to be selfish and lustful. He is just sowing to his flesh and his flesh just gets stronger and stronger, and he will reap corruption which will lead to destruction (Gal 6:8).

Some forms of “Wrong” Love

• Carry the burdens of those who don’t want to carry their own burdens Gal 6:5

• Helping people who refuse to help themselves


• Giving handouts that robs people of their dignity Gen 47:25


• Giving in to manipulation of guilt, tears, etc.


• Giving in to control of anger, intimidation, threats, etc

Discipline from Proverbs

• He who spares his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him promptly. Prov 13: 24


• Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him. Prov 22:15


• Do not withhold correction from a child, For if you beat him with a rod, he will not die. You shall beat him with a rod, And deliver his soul from hell. Prov 23:13-14


• The rod and rebuke give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. Correct your son, and he will give you rest; Yes, he will give delight to your soul. Prov 29:15,17

Questions to ask yourself:-

• What is your highest goal or aim in life?


• For those who are parents, what is your highest goal for your children?


• Do you agree that the ‘correction’ aspect of love is important?


• Do you struggle to bring correction to fellow brothers and sisters?


• What are some of the struggles?


• How often do you have a self examination on your personal behaviour, speech and attitude?


• Are you open to correction that seeks to help you mature in Christ?


• How do you feel when someone brings out your faults or mistakes or blind spots in life?


• What attitude should we have towards correction?