RESTORING A BROTHER OR SISTER IN CHRIST

BIBLE PASSAGE:
“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)

MEDITATION:
A brother or sister can be restored….that is good news!
Our God is the God of the second chance.
Do you know somebody
who has been overtaken by temptation and fallen?

The Bible says we are to restore that person.
“Restore” can mean to set a bone that has been broken,
or to mend a net that has been torn by “restoring them gently”.
It is too easy to view them as a failure,
and in some cases, become offended by their actions.

That person who has backslidden has been broken and has a
burden, because their relationship with God has been broken.
They need someone to remind them of God’s love and forgiveness.
One of the burdens we need to take up and bear is,
the willingness to “gently” relieve a brother or sister of their burden.

ACTION:
When you see a fallen brother or sister, it is not a call to gossip,
it is not a call to berate them, it is not a call to shame them,
it is a call to pray for them and to ‘love’ them back into
fellowship with our God of mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

When we fail to forgive them and treat them harshly,
we are sending a message that, since we are followers
of Jesus, He will not forgive them either and will
treat them harshly without the presence of love.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me if I have chosen the wrong response
whenever I have seen the fall of another Christian. Remind me if
I have been guilty of taking their fall personally, and responded
from my viewpoint instead of Yours. Erase any bitterness or bad
feelings in my attitude and help me to show love to them so they
will know that You love them too. And, help me to forgive them
as a reminder that You forgive them too.”