Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently  (Galatians 6:1).

Why are you thinking about defusing that behavior bomb you see?

Is it because it really annoys you?

Don’t do it.

Is it because you feel righteous indignation over that person’s wanton immorality?

Don’t do it.

Is it because it’s your solemn duty as Captain Theology to confront heresy in all its forms?

Oh, please, no.

Beloved, before you go diving into another person’s life, you need to do a heart check.  Are you praying for this person?  Have you asked God to help you see them through His eyes?  Have you asked Him to show you the pain, the fear, the loss that might have led this soul to the place they are in?  Have you asked God if you are the right person, in the right place, at the right time, to speak?  Is your desire to snip the wire borne out of an aching need to see them whole?  Is confronting this person the last thing you want to do, but the one thing that they desperately need?

Well, then.

Happy Tuesday, Beloved.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently  (Galatians 6:1).

Sin.

Not a doctrinal difference, or a lifestyle choice, or anything that makes you think, “Hmm…well that just seems wrong.”

Is it a clear violation of Scripture?

No?

Then zip it, Beloved.  Because you can’t unsnip the wire.

Happy Monday.

*Note: We’re just about done with Galatians. Congratulations–you’re earned a cookie. But before we leave, let’s hop back and take a closer look at a very important verse.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently  (Galatians 6:1).

Caught

Sin 

Spiritual

Restore

Gently

Hefty words, not to be read quickly or taken lightly.  Living this verse is like disarming a bomb as it ticks down to zero.  It’s gotta be done, but for corn sake, be careful.   So, if you’re coming with me into this verse, tread gently and remove anything that might spark.

Let’s start with the word caught.  Someone doesn’t catch themselves.  Oh, they may walk into a trap, but once there, they are caught. They need help in order to escape.  This is a reminder that the person you see, that sinner you’re thinking of confronting, is not your enemy.  They are trapped by your enemy.  Whatever choices they made to put them in this situation, they are now held prisoner and can no more walk away than if they were bound with chains and padlock.  If you choose to go in there, you have to go with the right heart.  

Your mission is not seek and destroy, but search and rescue.

Remember that, Beloved.

Happy Friday.

Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation.  Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God (Galatians 6:15-16).

Doctrine is important.

There is truth and there is falsehood.

Truth good.

Falsehood bad.

I don’t think Paul is advocating a, “Hey, it’s all good.  Don’t worry about the details. Just love Jesus and you’ll be fine” philosophy.

But 

It is possible to miss the forest because you’re too busy examining the pine needles.

It is possible to analyze the colors so intently that you miss the glory of the sunset.

Beloved, don’t focus so closely on Christianity that you miss Christ.

Just sayin’.

Happy Thursday, Beloved.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world   (Galatians 6:14).

The world has been crucified to me.

It no longer has power over me, no longer owns me

no longer is me.

The world is dead to me.

So why does it still call with such a loud voice?

I have been crucified to the world.

I no longer belong here, no longer invest here

I am in it, but not of it.

I am dead to the world.

So why do I still live like it matters so much?

Happy Wednesday, Beloved.

Not even those who are circumcised obey the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh  (Galatians 6:13).

It’s called hypocrisy…and it’s annoying.

Those people I talked about yesterday–the ones who want you to look a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain way in order to validate their picture of what a Christian should be?  

Yeah, well, they’re probably not even walking the walk themselves.

Frankly, the fact that they are paying so much attention to you is a pretty good indicator of the state of their relationship with God.

I mean…not that you’re not worth paying attention to.

Walk your walk. Beloved.  Ignore the poser people.

Happy Tuesday

Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised.  The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the cross of Christ (Galatians 6:12).

They were called Judaizers.  These were Christians who feared the Jewish population, and tried to fly under the radar by following the outward signs of Judaism–like circumcision–while still proclaiming Christ.

Really hard to pull that off.

The worst of it was, they pushed new, immature, Gentile believers into following these same rules.  According to Paul, this was done not to help the new believers, but to protect the Judaizers.  And it was costly–if these baby Christians got caught up in following rules and regulations and outward signs, it was easy to forget that Jesus came to free them from following rules and regulations and outward signs.

Faith could get swallowed up by religion…again.

Beloved, the chances are slim that you will be asked to get circumcised today.  In fact, you can probably relax regarding the whole Jewish sacrificial system.  But there are still those who will expect you to look a certain way, act a certain way, be a certain way that does not come from a biblical understanding of Christ. 

They want you to be like them.

Jesus calls you to be like him.

Your relationship with Jesus is just that–your relationship with Jesus.  Don’t let anyone but the Holy Spirit speaking through Scripture tell you what that has to look like.  

Don’t be conformed, but transformed.

Happy Monday, Beloved.

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers (Galatians 6:10).

I have a challenge for you…

You’re still reading?  Great.

Take a few moments, before you head out on your Friday adventure, and ask God to show you opportunities to do good today.  Ask that he open your eyes to the people around you who need the kind of help that you can provide.

Then, you know…provide it.

Beloved, how great would it be if you–if I–if we–had the reputation of being kind and loving and always there for each other and willing to help everyone even those we disagree with and generally loving every day and all the time.

So let’s build that reputation.  Starting today.

Happy Friday, Beloved.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).

It is so easy to look the other way.

You will encounter multiple opportunities to do good today.

Most of them will come up at inconvenient times, or in uncomfortable ways. 

Take the opportunities.

Do the good.

Remember, Beloved, that we are in the rescue business.  Your unselfish deed, that moment when you let yourself be uncomfortable in order to make someone else feel better,  may be the moment that opens a heart to hear God’s love.  

Imagine standing in glory some fine day when a person walks up to you.  They say, “You don’t know me, but once upon a time you did ____________ for me.  I know it was a little thing, but it got me thinking about how there is still good in the world, and that got me thinking about God, and, well, here I am!”

It could happen.

No, you can’t help everyone.  

But…

Happy Thursday, Beloved

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life   (Galatians 6:8).

Sixty seconds

times sixty minutes

times twenty-four hours

equals

eighty-six thousand, four hundred

seeds

today. 

What will you plant?

Sow well, Beloved of Christ.

Happy Wednesday