Good morning people who love others more than they hate their sin

2 Timothy 2:25-26 NIV Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

The opening words contain the instruction to be gentle in our instruction to those who are doing the wrong thing.

The rest of the scripture clearly speaks to our motivation and it contains the fuel that empowers us to be gentle in our instruction. Take a look.

Paul is instructing Timothy to deal with these issues ‘in the hope that God will grant people repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth.’

Wow! The focus is not on ‘fixing them’, ‘changing them’ or ‘making them pay’. Not at all.

Paul knew what it was to be forgiven much by God. Previously, a terrorist who was guilty of murder and persecuting the Church, Saul turned Paul was personally grateful for ‘the kindness of God that led him to repentance’.

Paul encouraged Timothy, and God encourages us today, to ensure our motivation for correction is the same as God’s motivation towards us.