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Today's Little Lift
by Jim Bullington
Biblical passages sometimes “jump out at you” due to their relevance or a particular need that is pressing. Today’s text is just such a passage for me; perhaps it will also be something you need. Due to the nature and style of these devotionals, the passage today will progress one verse at a time throughout this entire week. As we begin, we will quote the five verses to be addressed.
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load.” (Galatians 6.1-5).
The leading command in Galatians 6.1 is to restore a man overtaken in a fault. It was obviously written to a class of believers about another class of believers. The class about whom it was written is any believer “overtaken in a trespass.” The class to whom it was written is “you who are spiritual.” The original language literally addressed the “spiritual ones” inasmuch as the words chosen to speak of this class were plural in number. It is also significant that the “man overtaken in a trespass” is a single wayward soul! The command to restore is to a plurality and the one to be restored is singular! Granted that the one needing restoration could be “any man,” but it is a solitary person.
When Jesus spoke the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15.4-7), he asked his hearers, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” The question was rhetorical; its answer was obvious! Had His hearers responded, they would have said, “Any man would leave the flock to find the straying sheep; that is just what men do who care about their flocks?” However, in the text in Galatians 6, it is significant that the command being given is not a generic command to all believers; it is a command only to the spiritual ones!
There is a connection between the Holy Spirit’s edict to restore the erring in the Spirit of Meekness and the class of believers He calls the spiritual ones. In fact, in as much as we fail to display the Spirit of Meekness, we also fail to be spiritual! Meekness demands the willingness to admit our own weaknesses and sins; the man or woman who is too proud to admit such a possibility is not spiritual (regardless of his or her protests to the contrary)! When our demeanor says that we are above such wayward actions, we disqualify ourselves from the class of the spiritual and we also excuse ourselves from those whom God wants to attempt to restore the erring. God does not expect someone who is a brother or sister “better than thou” to come to restore you; in fact, by implication, He forbids it!
We also need to recognize the “lostness” (I had to tell my spell check program this is a word; I use it for emphasis) of our culture. How many, many multitudes of people claim to be spiritual in our country? At the same time, many who classify themselves as spiritual totally separate themselves from organized religion. Some even see it as contradictory to be spiritual and to be connected to the church in its biblical form! Jesus organized but one religion, but He did organize one! Spiritual people seek that one Faith of our Lord and love it with all their hearts (see Matthew 16.13-18 & Ephesians 4.4-6).
God defines the prerequisites of spirituality; if I fail to possess them I am unspiritual (carnal)!
Questions:
1. Do you admit the possibility that you could be wrong (sinning) in some way?
2. Do you understand that our conclusions about biblical matters can be flawed and ought to be constantly evaluated for soundness and consistency with God’s word?
3. Have you ever thought about someone, “How could anyone ever get themselves into such a spiritual mess? I would never make such a mistake!”
4. Is meekness a prerequisite for spirituality? Why or why not?
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