Galatians 6:1-2

Galatians 6:1-2

 

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. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

 

It is far too easy to identify and bring to light the mistakes of another. It’s way too easy to see where others have made mistakes, pointing to the Law and condemning them where they stand. Yet we “accusers” stand just as accused as the person we are calling out, for we too are knee deep in our own sin. We may have different sins and we may have made mistakes in different ways, but before God, sin is sin. One sin breaks God’s Law as easily and completely as any other sin. As followers of Christ, we are to emulate how Christ reacted to sinners. He didn’t stand before them with God’s Law in hand, beating them over the head, shaming and condemning them. No, rather he approached with love and grace. He called them to repentance, to put their faith in him, and to leave their old lives of sin. Jesus would have been completely justified to kick the person to the curb, shaming them for their disgraceful behavior, and calling them to clean up their lives before returning to him. Yet he did not…he said come as you are and I will make all things new…I will transform you. He said come to me with all your burdens, mistakes, and darkness and I will remove the burden from you. We are to mirror that in our own lives. When someone makes a mistake, we can’t beat them down with the Law for that will get absolutely nowhere. And we can’t kick them to the curb like someone who is to unclean to be in God’s presence. After all, we are just as unclean as they are. Rather we are called to show compassion, understanding, and love while leading them to repentance…while leading them to turn to the Savior, confessing their sins, and leaning on the Holy Spirit as they leave their old lives in the past and embrace new lives of righteousness…new lives that carry the goal of serving the Lord above all else. May we be compassionate as or Lord has been compassionate and may we love as our Lord loves. To God alone be the glory!