The Heart Behind Correction

Admonishment is never just about what we say. It is about the heart that speaks. The difference between correction that heals and correction that harms lies in the motive behind it. True admonishment must begin in humility, flow through love, and aim for restoration.

Paul’s instruction to the Galatian believers captures this clearly. He urged those who are walking faithfully with Christ to gently restore anyone who has fallen into sin, remembering that they too are vulnerable to temptation (Gal. 6:1-2). The goal is not to expose failure but to help a brother or sister back to spiritual health. That is what love does. It lifts rather than condemns.

Admonishment without compassion quickly turns into arrogance. The person offering correction can start to sound like a judge instead of a friend. That is why Paul also told the church at Ephesus to speak truth with love (Eph. 4:15). Truth is necessary, but love must carry it. When love is missing, truth becomes a weapon instead of a wound-healer.

Jesus spoke about this same principle when He warned His followers not to focus on another person’s faults while ignoring their own (Matt. 7:3-5). Self-examination is the prerequisite to correction. If we approach someone else’s sin without first addressing our own, we lose credibility. Correction becomes hypocrisy rather than ministry.

The call to humility in admonishment also echoes through Paul’s letter to the Philippians wherein he instructed them to resist selfish ambition and to place the needs of others above their own (Phil. 2:3-4). Such a posture changes everything. When our desire is to serve rather than to dominate, our correction takes on a redemptive tone.

We see this redemptive heart in Jesus’ conversation with Peter after His resurrection (John 21:15-19). Jesus did not scold Peter for denying Him three times. Rather, He restored Peter through a simple question repeated three times: “Do you love Me?” By tempering correction with compassion, Jesus addressed Peter’s failure while also reaffirming his calling. Love and truth worked together perfectly!

Every believer who chooses to correct another must first examine his or her own motives. Are we driven by pride, frustration, or genuine love for a person’s soul? Is our motivation to prove ourselves right or to bring a fellow brother or sister closer to Christ?

When admonishment stems from love, it reflects the heart of Jesus Himself.

Lord, give me a humble heart that seeks restoration, not vindication. Help me to see others as You see them, with grace and compassion. Teach me to speak truth that heals and to correct with gentleness and patience. Keep me mindful of my own weaknesses so that my words reflect Your mercy. In Your name, amen.