Brothers, even if a person is caught in some transgression, you who are spiritual should correct that one in a gentle spirit, looking to yourself, so that you also may not be tempted. Galatians 6:1 NABRE
Paul building community takes serious our relationship with one another. We are called to love one another, to help one another and to challenge one another when we are not following what the community or God would have us follow. In this final chapter of Galatians Paul is writing about how to correct one another when it is necessary. First correcting others comes from a place of love for Paul. We are together in a spiritual community to love. Therefore with love we should correct, using a gentle spirit, or we might think of using gentleness or meekness as using a fruit of the Spirit. Our intention should be to help the other grow, so they become sanctified. We should remember that we too can fall to the same temptation and might need correction with a gentle spirit. In today’s language we might say, “what goes around comes around.” If we love one another we want to put the other first, to do for the other, to be helpful. Paul’s approach for correction is best for the individual and the community, it is not delivered with force or authoritarianism, it is delivered through this gentle spirit that says we do care about you, we do want the best for you, we do love you and want you to grow. It is when we love others that they do change.
We must bear with one another, slow to judge or condemn, not only because we could find ourselves in the same situation but our love leads others to know Christ. Christ’s message of love pushes judgement to Christ and pushes us to care for one another. Christ said, love one another as I have loved you.
Do you like to be corrected? When was the last time someone corrected you lovingly?
We must bear with one another, slow to judge or condemn, not only because we could find ourselves in the same situation but our love leads others to know Christ. Christ said, love one another as I have loved you. Click To Tweet#bible’#godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #correct gentle #Paul #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #pray #prayer #goodnews #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways