It is interesting to see how people react to situations. Sometimes people that are near and dear to us cause us to be very concerned. We so much want to confront their behavior. We are fearful that we will say the wrong thing or be misunderstood.

This is nothing new. Think of what the Apostle Paul said to the churches in Galatia.

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).

The apostle Paul wrote to the churches in the region of Galatia, communicating with them concerning the importance of restoring a sinning believer. Recently I read the words of a service man graduating from basic training. He stated, “I will never leave an airman behind!” Every branch of our military is trained to fight to protect our homeland and citizens, and servicemen vow never to leave a wounded fellow soldier behind.

There is a tremendous lesson for believers in such a vow. What do we do when someone that we love and know in our local church sins and shows no repentance? In our verse for today Paul presents the strategy for reaching that person. Spiritual believers in the spirit of meekness must seek to reach that brother or sister and restore such a one. The reason for a meek and quiet spirit in approaching this sinning believer is the very real possibility that we likewise could be tempted in the future. Great care must be exercised in this matter. However, wouldn’t it be something if spiritual believers, those truly grounded in the Word, really sought to restore those overtaken in a fault?

For today: We must be careful how we are living and how we are treating even those who are overtaken in a fault!