Dev4GamersDevotions for Real People, for Real Gamers!

2 Timothy 4:1-2 (HCSB)
1 Before God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom, I solemnly charge you: 2 proclaim the message; persist in it whether convenient or not; rebuke, correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

Rebuke, Correct, and Encourage with great patience and teaching.

Don’t you just love being yelled at? I was having a conversation with a new guild mate that just joined the guild I play in Lord of the Rings Online. One of the things we both agreed upon is that being in a group with an over zealous leader that thinks the only way to get people to do things is to yell is not fun. But here the second part of this passage instructs us to rebuke!

I know many who have used this verse as justification for brow beating someone. But look. . .Read on. Check out the rest of the passage. Correct, and encourage with great patience and teaching.

We are to present the message of hope with great patience. Rebuking is just one part of this passage, and not what we think. Instead of seeing it as a complete negative I am right you are wrong thing, we need to see it as a gentle correction.

Example, A ship sets course to reach its intended destination. As the ship crosses the seas waves and winds will push on it slightly taking it off course. If the pilot does not make small, or even large adjustments at times the ship will be way off course and never reach its destination. When we use the Bible to help others, its often and small correction to course that will help us along our life’s journey. We encourage them. We help them.

As we start out this week, let us keep in mind that we are to have patience when we walk our life and try to tell others about our faith.