“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.” Galatians 6:1-6
Ever been judged? Ever judged someone? Ever thought you knew, but you had no idea. Ever had someone think they know and they have no idea. We’ve all been there.
Recently I experienced a situation where I thought I knew something and drew conclusions about someone and I was way off. I was humbled. On the opposite end I experienced anothers wrong assumptions of me that were, again, way off and, again, humbling. Both situations were huge reminders to me of how desperately we need grace. We are all way off on our own.
As Christians, having God’s word accessible we have a blueprint mapped out for us as to what is good and what is not. We know what is right and we know what is not. Unfortunately knowing doesn’t always come with wisdom. Sometimes that knowing in a sense of intellect creates judgment, assumptions and a critical spirit. There is a difference between discernment for the good of preserving what is Holy. However, on the flip side that same gift can be turned into a critical spirit always looking for wrong, always needing to know, always thinking things are understood or figured out, and always assuming the worst.
Knowing God’s word in intellect is far different than understanding with wisdom, for when we have godly wisdom grace always will follow.
Operating in godly wisdom gives us the grace necessary to restore one another gently in love
Those two words are where we need to land: restore and gently.
Christ was a gentleman. He used discernment to determine truth and grace to cover all that wasn’t understood or seen by the natural man. God sees all. We see only in part.
We don’t see all for we are not omnipresent, we don’t know all for we are not omniscient.
If you are in a place where you feel as though you have been judged or misunderstood – seek God’s word to give determination, clarity and most of all godly wisdom to your heart to know His truth, not human understanding.
If you are the one on the other end thinking you know, thinking you see – be careful Christian. Be careful of your words, careful of your intentions, careful of your judgement and in love gently restore back to the Father when necessary.
