Morning Message Text: Galatians 6: 1-10
Doing Good to All
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.
4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else,
5 for each one should carry their own load.
6 Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.
7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
8 Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Morning Message:
Restoration, here is a word that we have little use for in today’s society. In many ways we have become a disposable society. We throw everything away, and we are encouraged to replace things rather than try to have them fixed. I still remember the days of the TV repair man. You could actually take your television to the shop, and they would fix it so that it worked just like new. It used to be so simple that you could even attempt to fix it at home. When was the last time that you saw a commercial for the Maytag repair man? Their claim was that he was bored because Maytag products seldom needed repair: he would be really bored today because like everything else, they are not made to be repaired. Today, we just use things until they don’t work any longer, and then we throw them away and buy a new one. I think that it’s a conspiracy; you can’t even work on your own car because they are so complicated; only by hooking them up to a machine can you find the problem.
To restore means: To bring back into existence or use; to bring back to an original or a former more desirable condition. Fixing things, restoring things, and making them like new again are very rewarding. God specializes in restoration. God is constantly creating and recreating this world, his creation. Season by season, year by year, God makes everything new again. Even us; God continually restores us. In Psalm 30 we hear testimony of God’s restoring grace and mercy. This psalm is written by David, and it is a prayer that he said at the dedication of the temple. In my devotional this week the author asks why, if this is a dedication is there so much reference to David’s near demise and how God restored him? Listen to the explanation: Because Jerusalem, the site of the proposed temple, was almost destroyed by God as a result of sin on David’s part. Instead, God’s mercy prevailed, and Jerusalem was spared. So, when the temple was dedicated, David composed a psalm of praise to God for His mercy and healing. David in his pride took a census of the fighting men of Israel instead of trusting in God. God punished David, but then, when David asked for forgiveness, God restored him and blessed the nation. When we come to salvation in Jesus God restores us to right standing with him. We are no longer under the curse of eternal death, through the blood of Christ we have been restored to a right relationship with God.
In a single verse, Paul describes the act of restoration, the aim of restoration, and the attitude of restoration. The one who has fallen pictured here — the one who is “caught in sin”—is someone who was tripped up or surprised by transgression rather than deliberately disobedient. We start with the act of restoration. Although we are not to search for sin in the lives of fellow believers, we are to acknowledge it with humility when it becomes evident and reach out in love. Paul advises us to go to the one who has fallen and privately confront the fault with the goal of restoring them to wholesomeness. The restorer must be “spiritual”– someone who walks according to the Spirit rather than functioning according to the flesh.
The aim of restoration. While the legalist looks to exploit the fallen one, the loving believer is concerned for the fallen person’s good. “Restore” describes renewed harmony between quarreling factions. When confronting another believer who is in sin, we should aim for repentance from sin and restored relationships. This takes maturity on the part of caring Christians and your motives must be pure.
The attitude of restoration. The Spirit-led believer approaches restoration in a spirit of meekness and love. Martin Luther describes this attitude well: “Brethren… if any man be overtaken with a fault, do not aggravate his grief, do not scold him, do not condemn him, but lift him up and gently restore his faith. If you see a brother despondent over a sin he has committed, run up to him, reach out your hand to him, comfort him with the gospel and embrace him like a mother.” Finally, Paul urges the spiritual restorer to “consider yourself” — to be aware that we could just as easily fall into the same temptation ourselves. No one is free from the pitfalls of sin. Thankfully, because of Christ, no believer is beyond the possibility of restoration. Now that you have heard and hopefully understand the need for restoration amongst believers, you can read the rest of today’s text and find ways of doing good to all.
In Christ’s Love and Peace,
Pastor Bob
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