Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. – Galatians 6:1
The book of Galatians was written to show how we are not only free from having to keep rules and regulations to be right to God, but we are also free to love others who either don’t know God and need to come to God, or they have come to God but have fallen away. How do we treat people who are broken down, burdened down, and breaking down? How do we make sure as it has been famously said, “We don’t become a museum for saints; we become a hospital for those who are sinning and suffering.” The scripture gives us a starting point for how to do this.
When it comes to helping believers caught in sin, Paul encourages us to help with the process of restoration. “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently...” (Galatians 6:1). Think about it this way. If someone breaks their leg, lecturing them, preaching at them, or rebuking them for not paying attention won’t do them any good. But setting the bone will. We are to restore the broken believer. We are to help them get back on their feet, and there is nothing more like Jesus than a biblical bone setting.
Paul is telling us that when a believer is burdened by sin, we are to gladly restore that brother. Do you know what he means by this? When you know that a believer is caught in a sin, when you know they are far away from God, when you know they are on the wrong path, if the first thing that comes to your mind is condemnation, you are not spiritual. If the first thing that even comes to your mind is correction, you are not truly spiritual. The emotion you should feel is compassion.
Dear Lord, I want to be someone who restores burdened believers. I don’t want to condemn them, but rather encourage them and point them to you. Give me the compassion, the discernment, and the wisdom to do so. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Topics: Encouragement
