Rejoice:

Read:

6 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. ² Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Yesterday we talked about verse 1 and how we are to gently restore that person, not aggressively. We discussed how the Christian world has built this framework on cutting people down who fail… and we forget we are likely going to fail at some point too. Today we read the explanation of why we are to do it gently.

1)We are to carry each other’s burdens. A response that is harsh indicates we aren’t carrying a brother or sister’s burden as much as we are actually judging them or looking for a place we can insert authority. Paul asks us to restore them by way of carrying their burdens. We are called to be like Simon who carried Christ’s cross: he offered relief to an overwhelmed soul, he provided help to someone who had been pushed to the end of their earthly body, someone who was in need. We are called to endure the burden, help carry it, and this is not characterized by aggression and personal attacks.

2)We will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 5:14 says “For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” When we are in the midst of a great struggle, attacked by the enemy and failing we are usually not attacking ourselves personally. Yeah, there are times when Satan gets us to turn on ourselves but usually we are playing the “poor baby me” card. Honestly, that same way of being able to see our own perspective no matter the depth of the struggle, that’s the mindset we need with one another. We love them the same way we love ourselves, by unconditionally supporting them. We see them in the depths of despair, breaking under the pressure and we come alongside them with hands pressed under the weight, working as a team to lift the weight.

We are called to be gentle, restoring our brother and sister the same way Christ did. Paul has reminded us the main principle of the Church: unity. If we are unified, supporting one another, and seeking growth TOGETHER we will find the Church is like a braided cable, strengthened by numbers. Instead we flock to shoot down anyone who has made a mistake. We live in the complete opposite of Scripture and wonder why so many of us are struggling.

Respond:

God help me to carry the burdens of my brothers and sisters rather than adding to the weight. Help me to see how to treat other’s the way You treat me. Guide me in Your ways. Amen.

Relate:

Ask a friend about their burdens. Ask them if you can help them in SOME area of their life. Ask if there is a way to carry a burden with them. In that, explain that you learned this from Scripture today!