Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 4:2)
Growing up, I’ve had my share of insecurities. As an introvert, I thought that I wasn’t capable of teaching, or correcting someone who was wrong.
Yet Paul calls Timothy (and all of us) to teach! Paul calls us to “Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching” (2 Tm. 4:2). If we know our brother or sister is sinning, we love them by rebuking and helping them turn from their sin (Prov. 28:23).
Notice that Paul doesn’t stop at “rebuke.” He calls us to “encourage with great patience and teaching” afterwards. Parents, it’s like hugging your child and wiping his or her tears after rightfully disciplining them. Husbands and wives, it’s like forgiving your spouse for wronging you and showing them Jesus. We’re all sinners who were once apart from God. Yet we’ve all received God’s grace, forgiveness, and compassion. In fact, Jesus calls us to rebuke our brothers and sisters if they sin, and to forgive them if they repent (Lk. 17:3). We are to be compassionate, encouraging our brothers and sisters through patience and teaching.
Teaching includes teaching your spouse, child, friend, classmate, or even your parents, elders, and pastors. No matter how old or young we are, no matter where we are in life, we teach and are being taught.
How can we accomplish this? First, pray to the Lord for wisdom. We teach what we already know. We can’t teach what we don’t know, out of our own might. Ask the Lord to renew your mind (Rom. 12:2) and to let His word dwell in you richly (Col. 3:16). Also, find a mentor or get in touch with your community group leader. Just as God calls us to teach, we are being taught as well. Always be learning just are we are to always be teaching.
When God places us in a situation to correct and rebuke, ask Him for wisdom, strength, and discernment to rebuke out of love. Your brother or sister may be upset at first, but in the end he or she—and most of all, God—will be happy you reached out (Mt. 10:28, Heb. 13:6).
We are all called to make disciples, to teach others to observe everything Jesus has commanded us (Mt. 28:19-20), to correct out of love. Are you ready for this?