(Read Galatians 6:1-3)
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. In our last message we learned from Paul that we are supposed to die to our old nature; nailing our sinful desires to the cross and dying self and sin. As we continue to walk through Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia we see a continued focus on emphasizing God’s grace and love, and not necessarily external rules. While at the same time NOT giving people a license to sin. Some mistake grace to mean that sin is acceptable, but sin is never acceptable in God’s eyes.
Paul says, “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” We all sin, and some sin is more public than others, causing a great deal of shame, guilt and condemnation. But when our brothers and sisters are down we should not walk away from them. We fail to walk in God’s love if we walk away from them at the moment they need us the most. The Holy Spirit can empower us to minister to them and restore them to God’s best for their lives. Paul goes on to say, “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. One of the ways we can walk free from sin is by being accountable to one another and by helping our brothers and sisters when they are overcome by sin.
2. When our brother or sister in Christ is overtaken by sin, instead of walking away from them when they need us the most, Paul teaches us to gently and humbly help that person back onto God’s desired path for their lives.
3. God has given us the grace to walk in freedom from sin, but when we don’t, and we get entangled with sin, God will grace others to come help us get restored. Why? Because God loves us and He graces others to love us as well.
4. If you are going to help someone who is struggling with sin in a certain area you must ensure you have the grace to do it, so you don’t fall to the same temptation. Make sure you are hearing from God. If God is leading you to do it, you will have the grace to do it without falling.
5. We have transitioned from the Law of Moses to the Law of Christ. The Law of Christ is the Law of Love. When we walk in love we share each other’s burdens and we don’t leave our brothers and sisters when they are down and they need us the most.
6. Paul was clear, “If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”
7. The closer you get to God, the less you think of yourself and the less judgmental you become. Because the closer you get to God the more you realize how imperfect you are!
8. When you meet a Christian who is very judgmental, just know that you are more-than-likely dealing with a Christian who is also very immature in Christ.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me to transition from the Law of Moses to the Law of Jesus, which is the Law of Love. I seek to love You with all my heart, mind, soul and strength; and I seek to love my neighbor as I love myself. Your love has been poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit and I now walk in Your supernatural love daily. The closer I get to you, the less I think of myself. The closer I get to You, the more I realize how imperfect I am and how much You love me anyway. You love me in spite of my faults, flaws and failures, therefore, I will give that same love to my brothers and sisters. I won’t look down on them when they are overtaken in sin. I will have compassion for them, knowing that it is only by Your grace that I am not the one in their situation. I know I am no better than anyone else. So instead of looking down on those who are down, I seek to extend an arm of love to help pick them up. Use me Father to restore the fallen by Your Grace and through Your Love. As I do, the fallen will be restored and I will be ever-the-more thankful for Your grace and love towards me. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
