GALATION 6:1 Restore the one who is sinning

“Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted”.

The word “caught” makes me think of a fish being caught in a net and how that fish is unable to release itself, they can’t escape on their own and need help to be set free.

“trespass” is sin, it is when we fall short or miss the mark and sometimes we can sin without even knowing it and these are the times we need to help one another. And I mean "one another" because there will be times when I will need someone to set me free from the trap of sin and I will be sometimes the person to set another free. We have to accept that we will be on both sides of that. Some people think their only role is to help others but forget they also need help while others only want to be helped and never make any effort to support others.

We have to “Restore” the person. Restoration means to put back to its original form. If you restore an old piece of furniture you are putting that furniture back to its former glory. That is what we want to do when we are helping someone, when we are freeing them from their sin. We are putting them in the “right position” (putting them on the right track ) and “equipping them” by giving them whatever they might need to do that (encouragement, support, love, hope, forgiveness, patience).

We must help each other with “gentleness”. When we are holding a kitten we are gentle, we are soft and hold it delicately. More so with a new born baby and how much more should we do so when we are talking about someone’s soul. We must hold on to each other like babies, gently helping one another. When a baby is bathed, the mother is so careful and so particular in how she holds him. We want to wash each other’s sin, so we have to find a gentle strategy that is acceptable to that person. If we scrub roughly, we will cause irritation and even scarring. The person will not hear the message if we talk roughly but only focus on the way the message was said. Better to talk kindly so they can understand and accept.

“lest yourselves be tempted”. We have to check ourselves because when we see sin in others, this is usually an indication that that same sin exists in us. People who talk too much will always notice others who talk too much.

By Hayley Boud