Galatians 6:1 - Gentle and Humble Help.
Galatians 6:1 (NLT) 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.
INTRODUCTION
No Christian should ever think that he or
she is totally independent and doesn't need help
from others, and no one should feel excused from
the task of helping others. The body of Christ -
the church - functions only when the members
work together for the common good. Do you know
someone who needs help? Is there a Christian brother
or sister who needs correction or
encouragement? Humbly and gently reach out to that person
offering to lift his or her load (John 13:34, 35).
[Life Application SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
Theres Nothing Right About a Rude Response
Everybody in your life is going to
disappoint you at some point. Why? Because nobodys
perfect!
So how do you deal with disappointing
people? How does love respond when people disappoint
us?
The Bible says in Galatians 6:1,
Brothers and sisters, if someone in your group does
something wrong, you who are spiritual should go to
that person and gently help make him right again.
But be careful, because you might be tempted to
sin, too (NCV).
The loving response to people who
disappoint you is to be gentle, not judgmental.
How do you have tough conversations with
people in a gentle way? How do you confront people
you love when you see theyre doing something
they shouldnt be doing? The Bible tells us to
do it gently and with respect, not harshly or
in a rude or mean way.
Heres a little equation to keep in
mind: Right + Rude = Wrong.
It doesnt matter if youre right. If
youre rude about it, then nobodys going to care
what you have to say. Theyre just going to get
defensive! If you want to get through to someone who
has disappointed you, then you should respond in
a gentle and loving way.
Proverbs 15:4 says, Gentle words are a
tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the
spirit (NLT).
We always have a choice in how we speak
to somebody - especially with our kids. Have
you found how deeply hurtful words can wound a
child? You can scar them for years. But the Bible
says that kind words heal and help. So when your
kids mess up, dont get on their case and tell
them whatever you think they are at the moment.
Give them a vision of how things could be! Speak
words of life and health and hope into them, not
harsh words of judgment. Be gentle.
Its the same way in our marriages. How
many marriage problems could be avoided if we
just waited a beat and used words that are gentle
and kind, not harsh or vindictive?
We need to learn to cut each other some
slack and be kind and gentle in our speech and
responses. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
COMMENTARY PEARL
When problems overwhelm us, God's grace
comes to us in many forms. Sometimes he empowers
us directly. Sometimes he guides us through his
Word. And sometimes he works through other people.
He wants us to accept their encouragement and
practical help. Will you be humble enough to ask for
help from his people?
He never meant for us to go through life
on our own. That's why the Bible speaks of
God's people as limbs of one body: Christ's body.
"The eye cannot say to the hand, 'I don't need
you!' And the head cannot say to the feet, 'I
don't need you!' (1 Corinthians 12:21). We all
need each other to face what life dishes out. If
you're in over your head or just feeling lonely,
ask someone for help or a listening ear.
Accepting help from others honors them
and enables them to fulfill the design God
created for them. [The Daniel Plan 365-Day
Devotional]
Feelings are neither good nor bad -
theyre just emotions but they need to be expressed
appropriately to God and to a trusted friend. The Bible
says, Carry each other's burdens, and in this
way you will fulfill the law of Christ
(Galatians 6:2 NIV).
You don't have to share your feelings
with everybody, but you do need to have one
person you can confide in. Someone you can go to
and say, "Hey, can I just tell you how I'm
really feeling right now?" This is someone who will
listen, share in your pain and frustration, and then
help you move forward.
Paul gives a great example of sharing
feelings instead of stuffing them in: My friends,
I want you to know what a hard time we had in
Asia. Our sufferings were so horrible and so
unbearable that death seemed certain (2 Corinthians
1:8 CEV).
If Paul, the greatest Christian who ever
lived next to Jesus Christ himself, could be
gut-level honest about what he was going through, then
we can do it, too.
Sharing your problems includes sharing
your frustrations, fears, and feelings. We are
living in unprecedented times, and everyone is
feeling the stress of the pandemic. Weve also all
experienced losses and missed opportunities due to the
upheaval in the world. You may have missed a
graduation, the funeral of a loved one, a wedding, or
the birth of a grandchild.
You need to grieve those losses - and not
just in private. Grief is a good, healthy thing.
Its how we transition. Sharing your grief with
others keeps you from isolation and loneliness and
will remind you of Gods provision.
God created us to need each other! He
designed us to share our feelings with others. But he
also wants us to share our feelings with him:
The LORD is there to rescue all who are
discouraged and have given up hope. The LORD's people
may suffer a lot, but he will always bring them
safely through (Psalm 34:18-19 CEV).
Sharing your feelings with others may not
come naturally to you. But it is the only way to
be emotionally healthy. Find that person you
trust to help you process what youre
experiencing, and then be that friend to someone else.
[Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
CLOSING PEARL
You must be good before you can do good. You
cannot exert an influence that will transform
others until your own heart has been humbled and
refined and made tender by the grace of Christ. When
this change has been wrought in you, it will be
as natural for you to live to bless others as
it is for the rosebush to yield its fragrant
bloom or the vine its purple clusters. If Christ
is in you the hope of glory, you will
have no disposition to watch others, to expose
their errors. Instead of seeking to accuse and
condemn, it will be your object to help, to bless,
and to save. MB128
LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY
Galatians 6:2 - Sharing Our Burdens.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200619-0832.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210520-0945.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230221-0846.html
Galatians 6:1, 2 - Burden Bearing.
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20200724-0949.html
http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20210607-1038.html
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
https://abible.com/links/
