Galatians 6
Galatians 6
Doing Good to All
1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Observation:
Paul closes the chapter with some guidelines on accountability within the church. Though we have freedom in Christ, Paul mentions that if we use our freedom to indulge our sinful nature, there will be consequences. Spiritual laws are like natural laws you can’t break them. If you jump off a ledge you will hit the ground. If you break one of God’s laws their will be consequences as well. That is why Christians though free from the bondage of the law, should not disregard it.
When a person in our faith community gets caught up in bondage to any kind of sinful habit that will eventually lead to their destruction: physically, spiritually, or emotionally; we have a responsibility to “restore him/her gently”. By confronting someone in sin in a loving way, we are helping them to carry the burden of their struggle. Ie. To watch someone self-implode is not a very loving thing to do.
Finally, Paul reminds the believers not to become weary in doing good, for in time they will reap a harvest if they don’t give up.
Application: Being a Christian in today’s world is certainly not an easy thing to do. We are surrounded by temptations and stresses all around us to cave in and compromise and live by the world’s values. We have all probably known or seen Christians we respect fall to temptation, and see the resulting mess that is made in their families and churches. As the saying goes, “you can pay me now or pay me later.”
Although following Christ and being obedient to His way of living life is not easy, it has its rewards both in this life and the life to come. I shudder to think of what my life would be like if not for the gift of grace given to me at a young age. I had some self destructive tendencies and only by the grace of God has he spared me from the consequences of such a lifestyle.
I thank God for the people and friends along the way that cared enough to speak the truth in love to me and confront me when needed. Though it was a risk and I may have blown them off, most of the time I listened and respected their guidance and it helped a lot. Those are true friends.
Who are your friends that love you enough to call you out when you are going down the wrong path? Who speaks the truth in love in your life? May we all be part of communities that bear each other’s burdens thus fulfilling the law of love and modeling Jesus’ love for us when he bore our burdens on the cross!
Prayer: Thanks for the freedom we have in Christ, and may we not use that freedom to be self indulgent. God thanks for the power of the Christian community and may all of us do our part to bear our brother or sister’s burdens. Finally, thank you Jesus for carrying our burden of sin to the cross. We are forever grateful for your love for us and your life poured out for the forgiveness of all of our sins. In Your Name we pray, Amen.
Doing Good to All
1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry his own load.
6Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Observation:
Paul closes the chapter with some guidelines on accountability within the church. Though we have freedom in Christ, Paul mentions that if we use our freedom to indulge our sinful nature, there will be consequences. Spiritual laws are like natural laws you can’t break them. If you jump off a ledge you will hit the ground. If you break one of God’s laws their will be consequences as well. That is why Christians though free from the bondage of the law, should not disregard it.
When a person in our faith community gets caught up in bondage to any kind of sinful habit that will eventually lead to their destruction: physically, spiritually, or emotionally; we have a responsibility to “restore him/her gently”. By confronting someone in sin in a loving way, we are helping them to carry the burden of their struggle. Ie. To watch someone self-implode is not a very loving thing to do.
Finally, Paul reminds the believers not to become weary in doing good, for in time they will reap a harvest if they don’t give up.
Application: Being a Christian in today’s world is certainly not an easy thing to do. We are surrounded by temptations and stresses all around us to cave in and compromise and live by the world’s values. We have all probably known or seen Christians we respect fall to temptation, and see the resulting mess that is made in their families and churches. As the saying goes, “you can pay me now or pay me later.”
Although following Christ and being obedient to His way of living life is not easy, it has its rewards both in this life and the life to come. I shudder to think of what my life would be like if not for the gift of grace given to me at a young age. I had some self destructive tendencies and only by the grace of God has he spared me from the consequences of such a lifestyle.
I thank God for the people and friends along the way that cared enough to speak the truth in love to me and confront me when needed. Though it was a risk and I may have blown them off, most of the time I listened and respected their guidance and it helped a lot. Those are true friends.
Who are your friends that love you enough to call you out when you are going down the wrong path? Who speaks the truth in love in your life? May we all be part of communities that bear each other’s burdens thus fulfilling the law of love and modeling Jesus’ love for us when he bore our burdens on the cross!
Prayer: Thanks for the freedom we have in Christ, and may we not use that freedom to be self indulgent. God thanks for the power of the Christian community and may all of us do our part to bear our brother or sister’s burdens. Finally, thank you Jesus for carrying our burden of sin to the cross. We are forever grateful for your love for us and your life poured out for the forgiveness of all of our sins. In Your Name we pray, Amen.
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