Humble, Gentle, and Persistent Correction When Necessary

241 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 2:23-26, “ But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will. Let's try to get a better understanding of these verses by using an example from the New Testament where Paul and others had to confront dangerous false teachings and practices in the fledgling congregations. These congregations began as people gladly received the gospel, but it wasn't long before bad teachings and practices crept back in. Mostly because the people lacked further instruction. Paul and the others had moved on to plant other churches and the vacuum was often filled by cleverly laid snares of the devil. In fact the letters of the New Testament were written in part to confront these various unhealthy teachings with a tone of gentleness and humility, seeking to patiently teach and correct any misguided notions! For example, sexual promiscuity had wriggled it's way into the church at Corinth, so much so that a man was guilty of incest and the members of the congregation were actually proud of their acceptance of such a sinner in their midst. By the way, don't use this example as a starting point for church discipline or correction. Sexual immorality needs to be addressed in ALL it's forms! All manner of fornication (sexual sin) had been given the green light in the church, mainly because the people were surrounded by it in their culture. (Sound familiar?) And this had to be corrected with humble gentle patient teaching from the Word of God. If left unchallenged it would be a snare that played right into the devil's hands who desires that all men be separated from God as he is! So Paul gently yet firmly teaches in 1Co 6:9-11, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” Then he reminds them that as new creations in Christ they no longer have to be identified by these sins he says in v11, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Friend, stop being overpowered by the influence of the world and start being overpowered by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God!