Leadership: Correctable
If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.
Proverbs 15:32 (NLT)
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid.
Proverbs 12:1 (NIV)
Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.
Galatians 6:1 (NLT)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)
Sadly, a noticeable deficit exists among many Christian leaders, especially at the highest levels: senior pastors and/or mega pastors.
It's a deficiency of correction–both the giving of it by wise elders and its reception by stiff-necked preachers.
The result is a risky condition, which might best be described as 'running blind.' It's as old as Sodom and Gomorrah.
Because when leaders only have 'yes men,' and men of truth are mute, TYRANNY reigns. Rulers become 'Blind leaders of the blind' (Matthew 15:14).
During the ministry years of Jesus, He exposed the unholy corruption flowing from Israel’s power players*... AND He corrected mistaken mindsets in His disciples, our future leaders!
When Peter got filled with a bad mindset, the Teacher said: 'Get behind me, Satan' (Matthew 16:23). Peter learned, and WE learned… from his mistake.
When James and John got filled with a bad plan, Jesus corrected them: 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of' (Luke 9:55). They both learned, and WE learned from their mistake.
By studying how our King corrected different types of people in His Life, we see how His style of correction changed:
To disciples, it was immediate, frank, and followed by an explanation.
To greedy temple merchants, it was harsh, public, and inarguably needed.
To hypocritical Jewish leaders, it was long, detailed, brutal, and seething, because they were held to higher standards.*
To the adulteress, Jairus, or other sinners (who repented or corrected themselves), Christ offered love!
Actors, models, and talent for Christ:
As His rise and shine leaders, don't run blind. Create an accountability group: wise Christians who believe in your mission.
When you face tough decisions, ask God first: 'When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth' (John 16:13).
Next, consult your circle of advisors. Then take it all back to God again.
Bottom line: Always be correctable. You’ll be pleasing God and helping yourself!**
Leadership: Correctable (Part 44)
* Matthew 23: Matthew 23 NIV - A Warning Against Hypocrisy - Then - Bible Gateway
** 'God's corrections are our instructions, His lashes our lessons, and His scourges our schoolmasters' (James H. Aughey: http://christian-quotes.ochristian.com/James-H.-Aughey-Quotes/)
NOTE: God is my Ghostwriter. If what I write is good, it’s from God! We’re ALL called to be actors (action stars) for Jesus. We’re ALL called to models of Jesus, and we ALL have gifts, talents, and callings from God– to multiply them in the world for His glory.
P.S. NO DEVOTION, PREACHER, or SERMON… can begin to replace personal time in the Bible. I wholeheartedly and clear-headedly recommend READING THE BIBLE DAILY.
WARNING: Don’t focus on favorite verses, because out of context, they’re often misinterpreted. I plead with you to READ AT LEAST 1 BIBLE CHAPTER DAILY. How long does it take? An average of 5 to 10 minutes!