GALATIANS 6 v. 1 – 3
‘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.
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves.’
‘Paul brings his epistle to the Galatians to a close with a set of short instructions…If any of us in our congregation find ourselves in error, having made a poor choice, may the correction be gentle. We may be the next to stumble, and the thought of responding harshly to other Christians’ failures is always a temptation….Responding in gentleness creates a powerful opening through which God can work much good.’
‘The strongest quality a congregation can exhibit in its community is to love well – within and beyond the walls of the church. Our neighbours…need our presence and our love, they need our humility. They need us to be church for them by bearing their burdens. In that way, we will indeed fulfill the law of Christ.’ (‘God Unbound’, Elaine Heath)
PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ,
help us to care enough
for those in our fellowship
in our community of faith
and beyond
that we will speak gently
into situations of concern.
Holy Spirit,
help us to care enough
for those in our fellowship
in our community of faith
and beyond
that we will bear one anothers’ burdens
carrying another
helping and serving wherever
and whenever we can.
Loving Father,
help us to care enough
for those in our fellowship
in our community of faith
and beyond
that we will never look down on others
but will draw alongside
all who we encounter today
with Your love
Your grace
Your peace.
AMEN.
CHALLENGE
‘Living by the Spirit’ brings us into contact with others – within and beyond the boundaries of church fellowship – and some, today, may need a gentle restoring, some may need a burden bearing, some may need another to draw alongside (feeling ‘looked down upon’ by many others around). Be alert to the Spirit’s prompting, and BE ‘good news’ for someone today.