Journal Entry ~ 01/08/20
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:1-2
If any of our believing friends or family members are caught in a transgression, when they’re living in an unguarded way in some aspect of their life, we who are spiritual are called to restore them. But God knows our tendency toward judgment, so we are immediately instructed to restore them with a spirit of gentleness.
Restoring is to put something back together, as a bone that’s out of place. Gentle is how Jesus describes himself in Matthew 11:29, when you are burdened, take my yoke on you for I am gentle. Gentleness is sweetly reasonable and approachable. If you’re angry at the person for their sin, if you’re offended, if you’re judgmental, you’re not going to be gentle.
Again, God knows our heart well enough to continue the words of caution - we are told to keep watch on ourselves, lest we be tempted. In other words, guard your heart when approaching others about their sin. If you’re wrong in the way that you’re right, you’re wrong even if you’re right.
So many of us get caught in the trap of self-righteousness. We think we’re better because we don’t struggle with the sin we’re confronting in the other person, or maybe we think they should have matured past the sin because we have matured past the sin. Our tendency is to look down at the other person and scold them for their sin, to throw scripture in their face, or to yell or speak with disdain. Or when we’ve been offended and deeply hurt, we bring our lack of forgiveness into the conversation when confronting another person on their sin.
Don’t let someone else’s sin drag you into a sinful response. Keep watch on yourself and guard your heart. Seek Him before confronting another person, and ask Him to fill you with a Spirit of gentleness.
Press on ~ you are loved 💗
2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:1-2
If any of our believing friends or family members are caught in a transgression, when they’re living in an unguarded way in some aspect of their life, we who are spiritual are called to restore them. But God knows our tendency toward judgment, so we are immediately instructed to restore them with a spirit of gentleness.
Restoring is to put something back together, as a bone that’s out of place. Gentle is how Jesus describes himself in Matthew 11:29, when you are burdened, take my yoke on you for I am gentle. Gentleness is sweetly reasonable and approachable. If you’re angry at the person for their sin, if you’re offended, if you’re judgmental, you’re not going to be gentle.
Again, God knows our heart well enough to continue the words of caution - we are told to keep watch on ourselves, lest we be tempted. In other words, guard your heart when approaching others about their sin. If you’re wrong in the way that you’re right, you’re wrong even if you’re right.
So many of us get caught in the trap of self-righteousness. We think we’re better because we don’t struggle with the sin we’re confronting in the other person, or maybe we think they should have matured past the sin because we have matured past the sin. Our tendency is to look down at the other person and scold them for their sin, to throw scripture in their face, or to yell or speak with disdain. Or when we’ve been offended and deeply hurt, we bring our lack of forgiveness into the conversation when confronting another person on their sin.
Don’t let someone else’s sin drag you into a sinful response. Keep watch on yourself and guard your heart. Seek Him before confronting another person, and ask Him to fill you with a Spirit of gentleness.
Press on ~ you are loved 💗
Comments
Post a Comment