“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in
a fault, ye who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of meekness,
considering thyself lest thou also be tempted.”—Galatians 6:1
In our scripture reading for today, we are taught
to deal tenderly—gently with those Christians who are overtaken in a fault that
is, brought to sin by surprise of temptation.
There is a big difference between deliberately entering into sin and
quiet another thing to be overtaken in a fault.
At the time that the apostle Paul wrote this letter
to the churches in Galatia, the Galatian churches were facing a double threat,
involving purity of doctrine and purity of conduct. Certain individuals had come into the area which
“would pervert the gospel of Christ”
(1:7; 5:10). Paul exhorts Christians “by love serve one another” (5:13) and cautioned against a temper
which, if indulged, would hinder us from showing mutual love and serving one
another. Serving
one another in love and humility will also keep us in the hour when we may be
tempted.
To restore
we are to be spiritual—that is to say we are not to walk in the flesh. The flesh would verbally or physically abuse
some one in an effort to see a change in behavior; however, the spiritual
Christian walks in love and humility when she or he is actively working to restore. We are to labor, by faithful corrections, and
meaningful and timely instructions, to bring the individual to repentance.
The word “restore”
means to set in joint, as a
dislocated bone: we are to bring them to themselves by convincing them of their
sin and effort, persuading them to return to their Christian values and actions,
comforting them in a true sense of forgiving mercy and grace, and persuade them
to return to their intimate relationship with God the Father. Many needful corrections lose their effectiveness
by being given in anger; but when they are managed with calmness and
tenderness, and appear to proceed from sincere affection and concern for the
welfare of those to whom they are given, they are likely to make a due
impression.
A very good reason why restoration should be done
with meekness: Considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. We ought to deal very tenderly with those who
are overtaken in sin, because none of us know that if at some time or other we
may need to be restored.
Prayer—Father
I repent for criticizing other people and treating them badly when they have
fallen into sin. I ask You to forgive
me, and restore a right heart in me.
Lord help me to “restore” Your people in tenderness and love, in Jesus
Name. Amen.
