Restoring

DEVOTION
GALATIONS
RESTORING
Gal 6:1
6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.
NIV
I pray I never catch anyone in sin. But then I am assuming I am one of those who would be the spiritual. Yet still I am aware that within the body I think all too often we shoot out wounded rather than heal them. I have witnessed some of my fellow church goers’ exhibit distain and contempt for a brother who was catch in sin. I am glad I did not but in fact did extent a hand to him and be a part of his restoration. This requires a repented spirit on the part of the one catch in sin. The rub here is how much sin goes on without being catch. Why would I hide my sin? Why would I not want to be catch? Is that pride? Is it the need or desire to continue in my sin without having to repent and be stored? What kind of sin is being talked about here? Is this just sensual misconduct or immoral behavior? Or does this include sins like gossip, greed, selfishness, fits of rage, impatience, unkindness, being rude, critical, self righteous, self centeredness, prideful, uncompassionate, and stubborn, just to name a few? Would I be willing to admit to any one these in the company of my fellow believers? Do I trust them enough not to reject me and cast me out, give me the cold shoulder, ignore me and refuse to continue to love me? Oh sure, I always say I am not perfect, that I still fail God, I still have sin to deal with, but I do not announce the individual sins looking for their gentle love and help for I fear that would not be the case. Now I also have to be in that fame of spiritual love toward them and accept who they are and continue to love them in their imperfect state of being. But this being caught thing still troubles me. Unless a member of the body is exposed by some bizarre circumstances, no one is ever caught. Who is ever caught being rude or selfish? Who is ever caught in gossip? I think we just go on or join in. This is so simply yet so complex. God makes it simple, we make it complex. If everyone else is gossiping than is it alright for me to join in? That would not work. Situational ethics is not acceptable within the body of Christ. I must be ever aware to live with love, and to live as close to God as I can. To be open and transparent with my brothers in Christ and be the man God desires me to be, being served and serving, being loved and loving, being restored and restoring.