All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 [NIV]
These then are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Titus 2:15 [NIV]
How good are you at influencing others, bringing direction and encouragement? It is not one of my gifts, but maybe something that God is challenging me over. Paul had a lot of authority, and saw himself used powerfully bringing the "word to light" in people's lives. [Titus 1:3].
Trying to instigate change can feel like running through treacle. We like what we like, and we don't want anyone disrupting that, thank you very much. Jesus found the same, likening some people to "old wineskins" that weren't flexible enough to take the new wine of his spirit that he was going to pour out.
I grew up in a church where the impression was that God only liked robed choirs, organ music and polished pews. Of course there is nothing wrong with these, but they are just some people's preference. The problem comes when these preferences become too entrenched, so God can't change us anymore.
As we try and encourage others to change, are we flexible ourselves so that God can change us? Are we just trying to change people to our personal preferences? If we have the Bible as our guide, then we can speak with all authority.
Jon Seaton
Read the Bible in a year: Proverbs 26:3-12, Habakkuk 1:1-3:19, Titus 2:1-15
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