If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one.

Galatians 6 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. ⁵ For each one will bear his own load.

⁶ The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. ⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. ⁸ For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹ Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. ¹⁰ So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.

¹¹ See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand. ¹² Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. ¹³ For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. ¹⁴ But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. ¹⁶ And those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.

¹⁷ From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.

¹⁸ The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

There are many people who believe in karma, that what goes around comes around. Karma attributes this power or ability to even things out to the universe. In today’s text Paul says:   God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.   So the truth is the principle of getting what you deserve, reaping what you sow, is a principle not of the universe, but rather of the one who created the universe. There is an exception to or from this Godly principle. There is one way, that with God, we do not get what we deserve based on what we did. Romans 3:23 says:  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Romans 6:23 says:   The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.   With God, through Jesus Christ, we don’t get what we deserve for our sin, instead because of God’s love and grace we get more than we could even ask for. Rather than physical and spiritual death, we get the blessings and promises of God now, in this physical world and the gift of eternal life spiritually with God. Ephesians 2:8-10 says:  By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.   We didn’t get what we deserved for our actions. We are not saved because of our good works, but rather because of God’s grace. The good that we do is the result of God’s gift to us, not the cause of it.  The text says:  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.   We are to love and do good to all people because of the grace God has shown to us. But notice what Paul says: especially to those who are of the household of the faith.    In John 13:34-35, Jesus says:  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”   It is not only okay, but it is a commandment that we love and even give preference to believers. It is by the love we have for each other that the world will know we are disciples of Christ, and so will also receive our love and good works toward them.   

In today’s text it says:  Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.   Trespassing is entering a forbidden place. So as believers, as those who are spiritual, filled with the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ, we are to restore those who are caught in any trespass. Restoration is more than forgiving and leaving them where they are. If we are to restore them, we are to help them get back on the right path and to the right place. If we allow them to remain, if we accept, tolerate and embrace the forbidden place that they have entered, we too may be tempted.   We are to restore them gently, but that does not mean that we should not be strong and firm. Think of how you pick up a child who has fallen. Are you not both gentle and firm? You don’t leave them where they are, but rather set them on the right path. If we truly love others, our love must be demonstrated in restoration, changing where they are, not leaving them there. The text says:  Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ… each one will bear his own load.    If we are to restore others, we may need to come along side and help them for a time, but we cannot be their salvation. They must learn to walk on their own. They must assume the responsibility for themselves and for their own response to God’s gift of grace. The text says:   Those who will walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God… The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.

Amen, thank You heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ and precious Holy Spirit; as You have loved and restored me, may I also love and restore others to You, pointing them to the cross, the demonstration of Your love.   Amen.