Restore

Galatians 6:1-3 (Amplified Bible) BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also. Bear (endure, carry) one another's burdens and troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete what is lacking [in your obedience to it]. For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another's load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.

It hurts in a strange and different way. It feels like betrayal, yet that may be a bit strong. A person you admire, respect, or even love, lets you down. But it’s not that he or she let specifically you down, but that he or she did something to disillusion you. This person you admire behaved or said something inappropriate, or uncharacteristic. And suddenly—your world is shattered. It happens all the time. People are placed upon pedestals and expected to live up to being the person we see him or her as in our minds. But even the best examples we have here are stained with humanity and struggle with sin. And it is often those lifted up the most in the eyes of others that may crash the hardest. It amazes me how some rate sin on a scale of 1-10. I have looked and I can't find that in the Word. So, what do you do when that good Christian you have admired fails? “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” We will all fail at one time or another. ( and don't ever say never) It is not our place to judge, but to restore. It is our place to pick that person up, and help him or her regain footing on the path of God. I like the way the message Bible puts it. Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.

Have A Blessed Day