Slideshow image

Galatians 6:1 — “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

One of the most delicate tasks of pastoral ministry is correction. Sheep sometimes wander into sin, and the shepherd must bring them back. But the manner of correction is as important as the act itself. Paul calls for restoration in the spirit of meekness.

Correction without love becomes cruelty, while love without correction becomes compromise. Wisdom requires both: confronting sin honestly but restoring sinners gently. The goal is not humiliation but healing, not condemnation but restoration. A faithful pastor is a physician of souls, binding up wounds rather than tearing them open.

Gentleness does not mean weakness. It means strength under control, exercised with compassion. Pastors correct because they care too much to ignore sin, but they do so with humility, knowing they themselves are vulnerable. Prideful correction harms both pastor and sheep, but humble correction heals.

For the church, this truth is vital. When a pastor confronts sin, it is not to control but to restore. Resistance to correction reveals pride; receptiveness reveals humility. The flock must recognize that loving rebuke is part of God’s design for their growth.

Restoration is hard work. It requires time, patience, and perseverance. Some sheep resist, others stumble repeatedly, but the shepherd does not give up easily. His labor reflects Christ, who seeks the one lost sheep until He finds it.

The spirit of meekness is the key. When pastors correct in humility, and when churches receive correction with gratitude, restoration happens. Sin loses its grip, relationships are healed, and the flock grows stronger.