What If Correction Became an Opportunity to Get Closer to Christ?

I have been studying biblical correction a lot lately, and the deeper I go, the more I keep coming back to one simple thought:

We would be much better off if we stopped looking for reasons to correct people and started looking for reasons to love them.

Because when you genuinely love someone, it changes the way you correct them.

And when you genuinely desire Christ, it changes the way you receive correction.

Stop Looking for What's Wrong

Sometimes Christians can become so focused on identifying error that we begin looking for something wrong in everyone around us.

We listen for the theological mistake.

We watch for the bad decision.

We notice the character flaw.

We wait for something that needs to be corrected.

But what if that isn't where we started?

What if instead of asking, "What is wrong with this person?" we started asking, "How can I love this person?"

That doesn't mean ignoring sin or pretending false teaching doesn't matter. Scripture absolutely calls believers to discern truth from error and, when necessary, to correct one another.

But Scripture also tells us how.

Galatians 6:1 says:

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness..."

Notice the goal:

Restore.

Not embarrass.

Not expose for entertainment.

Not win an argument.

Not prove our superior understanding.

Restore.

Biblical correction should always have restoration somewhere in its purpose.

Correction and Criticism Are Not the Same Thing

There is a huge difference between criticism and correction.

Criticism can simply identify a problem. Correction should help point toward a solution.

Imagine you're driving somewhere and accidentally take a wrong turn.

Someone sitting beside you could say:

"You're going the wrong way. I can't believe you missed that turn. You never pay attention. How could you mess that up?"

They may technically be correct.

You're going the wrong way.

But nothing they said actually helped you get where you were trying to go.

Correction sounds different:

"Hey, I think we missed the turn. Let's turn around up here."

Same problem.

Completely different purpose.

The point isn't to shame someone for going the wrong direction. The point is to help them find the right road.

That is what biblical correction should look like.

Truth matters.

But Ephesians 4:15 tells us to speak "the truth in love."

If my goal is simply to identify everything wrong with you, I may be practicing criticism rather than biblical correction.

But if I love you, I don't just want you to know something is wrong.

I want to help you find the way forward.

But What About Receiving Correction?

This is where things get harder.

Most of us don't enjoy being corrected.

Someone points something out, and immediately something rises inside us:

"Who are they to say that?"

"They don't know my heart."

"They misunderstood me."

"They're judging me."

And sometimes they actually did misunderstand us.

Sometimes the correction isn't fair.

Sometimes their delivery is terrible.

Sometimes their motives may even be wrong.

But here's the question I've been asking:

What if we stopped viewing every correction as an insult and started viewing it as another opportunity to seek God?

Instead of immediately becoming defensive, what if our response became the prayer of David?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me..."— Psalm 139:23–24

Someone says something about you.

Before getting offended, take it to Jesus.

"Lord, is there any truth in this?"

"Is there something here You want me to see?"

"Did I miss You somewhere?"

"Is there an area of my life You are trying to change?"

That doesn't mean the person correcting you is automatically right.

Humility doesn't mean believing every accusation made against you.

Humility means being willing to let God examine it.

What If They're Completely Wrong?

Then take that to Jesus too.

This is where I think we can rob the enemy of one of his favorite weapons.

Imagine someone makes an accusation against you specifically intending to hurt you.

The enemy wants your attention focused on the accusation.

He wants you replaying the conversation.

Thinking about the insult.

Getting angry.

Getting offended.

Planning your response.

Defending yourself to everyone who will listen.

And meanwhile, your attention has moved away from Christ.

But what happens if instead you say:

"Thank you. I'm going to take that before God."

Then you go into prayer:

"Jesus, if there is any truth in what they said, show me. And if there is, show me how You want to change me."

Think about what just happened.

Something intended to pull your attention away from Jesus just caused you to spend more time with Jesus.

An accusation intended to wound you became an invitation to seek God.

What does the enemy do with that?

If every stone thrown at you causes you to run toward Christ, eventually throwing stones becomes a terrible strategy.

Either Way, Christ Wins

Someone corrects you.

You take it before God.

If they're right, God reveals something in your heart and you grow.

Christ wins.

If they're partly right, God helps you separate truth from misunderstanding and you grow.

Christ wins.

If they're completely wrong, God teaches you forgiveness, patience, grace and how to keep your identity rooted in Him rather than people's opinions.

Christ still wins.

That is a completely different way of living.

Instead of asking:

"How dare they say that about me?"

We begin asking:

"Jesus, what can You teach me through this?"

Proverbs 9:9 says:

"Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser..."

A mature believer doesn't have to fear examination.

If we are truly seeking truth, then we should want God to expose anything in us that isn't like Him.

Correction Should Point Toward Christ

This changes both sides of correction.

Before correcting someone, ask:

Do I love this person?

Am I trying to restore them or expose them?

Am I offering a path forward, or simply identifying what I believe is wrong?

Would I say this differently if my greatest desire were their restoration?

And when receiving correction, ask:

Is there truth here?

Jesus, is there something You want me to see?

What does Scripture say?

How can this moment draw me closer to You?

Imagine what would happen in the Church if we lived this way.

Correction wouldn't have to be something we feared.

It could become something we valued.

Not because every person correcting us is right.

Not because every accusation deserves to be believed.

But because anything can become an opportunity to seek Jesus when we place it in His hands.

And those giving correction wouldn't approach people searching for flaws.

They would approach them searching for opportunities to love.

Because when love becomes our motivation, restoration becomes our goal.

Maybe We Need to Change the Way We See Correction

Perhaps the problem isn't always correction itself.

Maybe sometimes it's what we've turned correction into.

We've associated correction with shame, embarrassment, rejection and accusation.

But biblical correction should point toward restoration.

When you're heading the wrong direction, the answer isn't shame for missing the turn.

The answer is turning around.

And when someone tells you that you may have missed the turn, you don't have to immediately become offended.

Take it to God.

Ask Him.

Search the Scriptures.

Allow the Holy Spirit to search your heart.

If they're right, grow.

If they're wrong, forgive.

If they're partly right, learn.

But whatever happens:

Run toward Jesus.

Because if every correction, criticism and accusation ultimately sends you back to Christ, then none of it has to be wasted.

Maybe correction doesn't have to be something we're afraid of.

Maybe it can become another invitation to get closer to Jesus.

Pastor Scott