The Plumbline

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. (Galatians 6:1-3 MSG) Maybe the 'if' someone falls into sin should read 'when' someone falls because inevitably we will all fall into it at some time, perhaps even today. We won't always be 'good' and 'upright' as long as we are still dealing with the tendency of relying on our emotions to steer us along the correct course. We are emotional beings, too frequently led by our emotions, less than stellar at always listening to the voice of God speaking through his Spirit within. Critical comments are so easy to make, aren't they? Finding a way to talk with someone who has fallen into sin (given into temptation...

If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care—then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand. (Philippians 2:3-4 MSG) What have each of us gained from following Christ? If you begin to list all the 'physical' blessings, that is one thing, but when you consider all the spiritual and emotional blessings that puts a very specific light on what he has done in us. We are made new, feeling the refreshment of his life within us where only death permeated every aspect of our lives. We are brought into a huge family of believers, giving us both the freedom to learn from each ...