2022-03-29
1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV
After listing some of the worst sins imaginable, Paul told the Corinthians, “And that is what some of you were. But you were… justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (v. 11 NIV). So, before you pass sentence on someone else, remember what God has lifted you out of!
Many of us think a “good” sermon is one that goes over our head and hits our neighbor squarely between the eyes! In Scripture, the word restore has two shades of meaning. One is to remove a tumor. A tumor can kill you, and it needs to be removed. Paul writes, “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently… in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2 NIV).
Make no mistake, sharing someone’s shame and humiliation can be a burden. Nevertheless, “we should do it… [giving] special attention to those… in the family of believers” (Galatians 6:10 NCV). If you tend to be quick to condemn others – something we have all done from time to time – ask yourself this question: If people don’t find grace among the people who preach it, where can they find it?
he other means to reset a broken bone. Scripture tells us, “Christ makes us one body… connected to each other” (Romans 12:5 GWT). In fact, your spiritual family is more important than your earthly family because it will last forever. By lifting a fallen family member, you help heal their pain and enable them to become a vital, functioning part of Christ’s body again.
So, the word for you today is – be a restorer.
Soul food: Job 35-37; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 69:19-36; Pro 8:30-31
1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV
After listing some of the worst sins imaginable, Paul told the Corinthians, ‘And that is what some of you were. But you were… justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God’ (v.11 NIV). Before we judge and condemn someone else, let’s remember what God has lifted us out of, and how much restoration has taken place in our own lives.
In Scripture, the word restore has two shades of meaning. One is to remove a tumour. A tumour can kill, and it needs to be removed. Paul wrote, ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently… in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ’ (Galatians 6:1-2 NIVUK). Sharing someone’s shame and humiliation can be a burden, but ‘we should do it… [giving] special attention to those… in the family of believers’ (Galatians 6:10 NCV). We’ve all been quick to condemn others at times, but if we find being judgmental is turning into a habit, we should ask ourselves this question: if people don’t find grace among those who preach it, where will they find it? We need to show God’s grace in action by extending that same grace to others.
The other meaning of restore is to reset a broken bone. Scripture tells us, ‘Christ makes us one body… connected to each other’ (Romans 12:5 GWT). Our spiritual family is important because it will last forever. By lifting a broken and stumbling family member, we help heal their pain and enable them to become a vital, functioning part of Christ’s body again.
So, the word for today is – be a restorer.
Job 35-37; Luke 20:20-26; Ps 69:19-36; Pro 8:30-31
2022-03-28
Galatians 6:1 NIV
Sometimes when we fall we can get up by ourselves; other times we need someone to help us. And sadly, not all Christians are willing to help. Sometimes they feel that by extending grace to someone they are condoning their sin. But Paul knocked that argument down when he wrote, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Why should we be restorers?
(1) Because God tells us to. “If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves… you also may be tempted” (Galatians 6:1 NIV). It’s pride that causes us to point an accusing finger instead of extending a helping hand to those who fall. It makes us think we’re better than someone else; incapable of falling like they did. You would be surprised what you would do in certain circumstances! Paul writes, “We are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so… self-confident… You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else” (1 Corinthians 10:12 MSG).
(2) Because Jesus is our example. Jesus had no time for the Pharisees who hid their sins behind a religious mask. But not one time did He condemn someone who was caught in sin and overtaken by temptation and failure. The minute they reached for Him, He willingly restored them. Someone has said the church is the only army that shoots its wounded. Today, others are watching us to see if the grace we preach to others is the same grace we extend to one another. Let’s not disappoint them.
Soul food: Job 32-34; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 69:1-18; Pro 8:27-29
Galatians 6:1 NIV
Sometimes when we fall we can get up by ourselves; other times we need someone to help us. And sadly, not all Christians are willing to help. Sometimes they feel that by extending grace to someone, they’re condoning their sin. But Paul knocked that argument down when he wrote, ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:32 NIV). Why should we be restorers?
1) Because God tells us to. ‘If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves… you also may be tempted’ (Galatians 6:1 NIV). It’s pride that causes us to point an accusing finger instead of extending a helping hand to those who fall. It makes us think we’re better than someone else, and incapable of falling like they did. But we can’t be certain how we’d react if we were faced with the same circumstances! Paul wrote, ‘We are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so… self-confident… You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else’ (1 Corinthians 10:12 MSG).
2) Because Jesus is our example. Jesus had no time for the Pharisees who hid their sins behind a religious mask. But He didn’t condemn those who were caught in sin and overtaken by temptation and failure. The minute they reached for Him, He willingly restored them. People will be watching us to see if the grace we preach is the same grace we extend to one another. Let’s set the best example we can and show grace and compassion as Jesus did.
Job 32-34; Luke 20:9-19; Ps 69:1-18; Pro 8:27-29
Galasiërs 6:1 NLV
Soms wanneer ons val, kan ons self weer regop kom; ander kere het ons iemand nodig om ons op te help. Dis hartseer dat nie alle Christene gewillig is om te help nie. Soms voel hulle dat indien hulle genade aan iemand bewys, hulle dan ook daardie persoon se sonde verskoon. Paulus het hierdie argument egter op sy kop gekeer toe hy geskryf het: ‘Wees eerder vriendelik met mekaar. Gee vir mekaar om. Vergewe mekaar soos God julle vergewe het op grond van wat Christus gedoen het’ (Efesiërs 4:32 NLV). Hoekom moet ons mekaar reghelp?
1) Omdat God dit van ons verwag. ‘…wanneer iemand iets doen wat verkeerd is, moet julle wat deur die Gees gelei word, daardie persoon nederig reghelp. Wees baie versigtig dat jy nie ook versoek word nie’ (Galasiërs 6:1 NLV). Dis trots wat ons ‘n beskuldigende vinger laat wys, in plaas daarvan om ‘n helpende hand na diegene wat geval het, uit te steek. Dit laat ons dink dat ons beter as iemand anders is; nie in staat is om te val soos hulle het nie. Paulus skryf egter: ‘Daarom – as julle dink julle staan sterk, moet julle oppas dat julle nie ook tot ‘n val kom nie’ (1 Korintiërs 10:12 NLV).
2) Omdat Jesus ons voorbeeld is. Jesus het nie tyd vir die Fariseërs wat hulle sonde agter ‘n godsdienstige masker weggesteek het, gehad nie. Hy het egter nie een keer iemand wat in sonde verval het, veroordeel nie. Die oomblik wat hulle by Hom aangekom het, het Hy hulle gewillig reggehelp. Vandag kyk ander mense na ons om seker te maak of die genade wat ons preek, dieselfde genade is wat ons aan mekaar bewys. Kom ons stel hulle nie teleur nie.
Sielskos: Job 32-34; Luk 20:9-19; Ps 69:1-18; Spr 8:27-29
