Be Gentle With Me

Our scripture this week comes from Galatians 6:1 NIV. 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 NIV

Sometimes we will find ourselves complaining to someone about other people. I know I have caught myself doing so. I never, until now, thought about my actual actions. Here I was talking about what someone has done or done to me. I talked as if I was done with that person or could not forgive them. Or worse, that the person was no good and should not be given the time of day. I know I am guilty of this and am constantly in prayer asking forgiveness. I remember lecturing my kids about fighting with each other and said that some day they will only have each other. Yet I myself was fighting with my own sister. What a hypocrit I was. Think about it. If a person hears that kind of spirit coming from you then they might think you would not forgive them for something. Imagine you are in a church and someone said to you. “Johnny was in the restaurant having dinner with a convicted thief. I always thought Johnny was a little funny. How dare he come to church that hypocrit.” What you might not realize is the person behind you heard it. Now that person, who was a convicted thief wanting to give his life to Christ, now he thinks that the people of the church has a non-forgiving spirit and he himself is not worthy of forgiveness. What if your child heard you telling someone that you could never forgive so and so for lying to you. What is that child going to think about him or herself. When we say things like that, we are saying we are better than them. We are worthy of forgiveness and they are not. But remember what was said in Matthew 6:14 NIV For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

How do we gently restore someone? First, we must remember God made and loves that person and if God loves them then we should love them. Second, we must be in constant prayer. Pray for God to speak through you. Pray for God to guide you. Pray for God to give you love and compassion for this person just as God loves and gives compassion to you. The scripture says “you who live by the Spirit...” This is a very important key. We must have the Holy Spirit in us. John 15:5 ends with “apart from me (Christ) you can do nothing.

Remember, Christ didn't say to God, (insert name) is not worthy of my time. They are not worth forgiving. He forgave you and I and loves us. So go out there and be gentle with love.

Peace and Love,

Scott

They Without Sin Cast a Stone

Most of us know the story about the adulterous who was brought before Jesus. The Pharisees hoped to trap Jesus. They asked Jesus what he thought about this woman and that the Law of Moses said they were to stone her in condemnation. Of course the story goes on with Jesus telling the Pharisees if they are without sin to throw the stone. We know that the Pharisees left without incident. Jesus than said to the woman, “...Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one sir,” she said. “ Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.” Mark 8:10,11 NIV. A whole sermon could be made with this one story. Did the woman repent before coming to Christ? Did this woman ask for forgiveness? These things are not mentioned any where in the scripture. All we know is, Jesus didn't condemn her. He didn't tell her she was going to hell in a hand basket. He simply said that He doesn't condemn her and she needed to leave her life of sin.

In our daily lives we come into contact with people. Sometimes we think they might be living in sin. We don't know what is in their heart, just as the Pharisees did not know the adulterous heart. But we tend to condemn them and not love them. Are they not a creation of God? Are we suppose to love ALL of God's creations? Yes we need not partake in their lifestyles, but we are to love them. At one point of our lives we were that sinner. We were the one being accused by the Pharisees. Did we get condemned or saved? Think back to the time you accepted Christ into your life. Were you motivated by the fear of going to Hell or were you wanting that great love and forgiveness that only Jesus Christ can offer? So I say to you. Show God's love even if we are with that person for just a second. We all know the words of John 3:16 but the story doesn't end there. John 3:17 NIV says “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world though Him.”

Peace and Love,

Scott