That they may know the truth

Martha Olawale

“In humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth,  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.” 2 Timothy 2:25-26

There are some people I give the liberty to speak into my life and correct me if they see me sliding off the edge of a cliff, because I know they love me, and they walk in God’s truth. I also have a handful of people I can correct if I see them making decisions that could harm them and hinder their walk with God. Nonetheless, I am learning to shut the door on those who want to assume God’s throne and be the judge while also guarding my heart so as not to be the same to others.

There is a clear line of difference between correcting and judging others, and if our intentions are not from the place of love, it’s so easy to falter beyond the confines permissible by the Holy Spirit. Understanding the fundamentals of being our brother’s/sister’s keeper frees us from assuming the role of God in other people’s lives. We have the freedom to correct in humility (2 Timothy 2:25) and, as Peter said in 2 Peter 3:15, answer oppositions with gentleness and respect.

However, it’s never our place to judge others. Matthew 7:1 says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Human judgment condemns and tells the other person that he/she is irredeemable. On the other hand, God’s judgment is just because His love is comprehensive enough to navigate the most complex and unsearchable parts of the human heart.

Bottom line, if you can’t grant repentance, you can’t sit on the judgment throne. 2 Timothy 2:25 says, “If God perhaps will grant them repentance,” not “If we can grant repentance.” In our correction of others and also our receiving corrections from others, it’s vital for us not to cross the line to condemn or accept people’s condemnation. Spiritual maturity allows us to accept corrections from a place of love and to know when the line is crossed, so we can reject condemnation, as it does not lead to repentance.

God sees the whole picture, beyond what the most sophisticated human telescope can see, or the most brilliant psychologist deduce. Our motive for correction must always be “So that they may know the truth.” We are one another’s keepers, and God is the judge. Isaiah 33:22 says, “For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.”