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When a Fellow Christian Stumbles
Yenny Kartika Official Writer
1494Galatians
6:1
Brethren, if a man
is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a
spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
Bible
Reading for a Year
[bible]psalm145[/bible]; [bible]0john5[/bible]; [bible]iisam17-18[/bible]
The Lord doesn't
want the members of His body to live in isolation; believers are intended to
function as a loving family who actively care for each other. One of our
responsibilities as part of God's household is to come alongside a brother or
sister who has stumbled. Paul specifies that those "who are
spiritual" are to restore the fallen ones to fellowship with the Father
and the family.
"Spiritual"
doesn't mean some elite group of pious leaders; it refers to any Christians who
are living under the Spirit's control. A key element in this process is the
attitude of the one who seeks to restore a fellow Christian.
1. A Spirit of
Gentleness: This isn't a time for harshness, anger, judgment, or condemnation.
Our goal is not to heap pain and guilt upon a hurting brother or sister but to
show mercy and forgiveness (2 Cor. 2:5-8).
2. A Spirit of
Humility: Those who have a superior attitude look down on a fallen brother and
think, I would never make those mistakes. But the humble know their own
vulnerability. Instead of judging others, they examine their own lives in order
to recognize and deal with areas of weakness.
How do you react
when a fellow Christian has stumbled? One of the ugliest human traits is our
tendency to feel better about ourselves when another person misses the mark.
Instead of sharing the latest gossip about a fallen brother or sister, let your
heart break, and come alongside to love and help.
