Hey friend and welcome back to my little corner of the internet,

Tonight, I finished Galatians. Chapter 6 reminded me of some things I already knew, but it shined a light on some new things, too. If you have ever read Matthew 7:1, you know it says, “Judge you not, that you might be judged.” I have had this verse of scripture replay in my mind so many times I have lost count. Whether it was being cut off on the highway or a snide remark from a co-worker. 

Believe me, I’ve had my share of moments when my flesh wanted to step out and take the reins. I’m guilty of allowing that behavior when I was so far from God I didn’t want to hear that verse in my mind.

But God…. 

You see verse one of Galatians says, “Brothers, if anyone who is caught in any sin, you who are spiritual [that is, you who are responsive to the guidance of the Spirit] are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness [not with a sense of superiority or self-righteousness], keeping a watchful eye on yourself, so that you are not tempted as well.”

I want you to go back to the word, gentle. You see so often we come across something or someone and we are so quick to put our two cents in the Holy Spirit gets muted by our loudness. He’s there, He’s telling you, “Hey that’s not loving your neighbor.” Do we always listen?

What if you are in a fit of anger, and that anger has been boiling for a minute. It started out small, almost like you weren’t aware of what was really happening in the back of your mind. Then it becomes a fester, nagging at you until it bubbles and then your top spews all the contents you’ve been holding in. Has that happened to you? Have you done that to someone close to you? Maybe it wasn’t even their fault, they might have just caught you on an off day. This happens, and it can happen to anyone. But prayer is the most important thing in your life if you ever want to change and grow into someone unrecognizable from your past.

We all have faults; Galatians 1-3 teaches us how we are to respond to the weaknesses of others. We’re to correct someone with gentle kindness and love. Not with judgement and being critical. If you aren’t sure what the difference is, pray about it. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you before you take on the task of correcting someone else. If you don’t you risk judging someone who may have just been having an off day. See as Christians we are supposed to be His light. Setting a Godly example for the people who need Him. You can’t do that if you praise God one minute and put someone down in another.

When dealing with the people in your life you must come to grips with the fact that they are not always going to act, walk, and talk the way you think they should. Learn to put up with things you don’t like. (Not everything! There are some things you need to fast and pray about, but if someone doesn’t fold towels the way you like or loads the dish washer the “wrong” way, deal with it.) Sometimes when someone acts in a manner that offends you it may even be a cry for help. That’s when you make sure to take it to the throne rather than the phone. Let me say that again, the THRONE not the phone.

In verses 3-4 (and this is very honest), “For anyone who thinks he is something [special] when [in fact] his is nothing [special except in his own eyes], he deceives himself. But each one must carefully scrutinize his own work [examining his actions, attitude and behavior], and then he can have the personal satisfaction and inner joy of doing something commendable without comparing himself to another.”

Now, go back to the first verse, you are special in the eyes of the Lord, but not yourself. It is not up to us to see the value in ourselves, that’s God’s job. He has already bought and paid for that, for your sake. Because when we take too much time deciding how special we are, we build our own little self-conceited, pride bubble and that is not where you want to be.

What we reap, we sow. I’m sure you’ve heard that a time or two. The bible says it as well (Galatians 6:7). If we sow with the flesh we reap with the flesh, but if we sow in the Spirit from the Spirit we reap eternal life. That to me just sounds better.

But don’t grow weary doing what is right, because at the proper time you will reap the rewards for your faithfulness to not give into the desires of this world. God is never late or early, He is always right on time. If your patience is being tested, just know God is working something out for your good. (Romans 8:28)

Like Paul states in verse 14, “But far be it for me to boast [in anything or anyone], except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Paul kept the things in his life balanced to the point he never relied on anything or anyone for his joy and peace and victory except the Lord Jesus Christ. 

No matter what is going on in your life choose to listen to the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit for guidance. Take care when correcting others with the love of God. Don’t allow pride and self-conceit to blind you and make you compare yourself to anyone or anything. Be mindful of what you sow into for you will greatly reap it. Lastly, depend fully on your joy and inner peace to come solely from Jesus. For there is no greater joy to be felt than the love of the Father.

Stay Blessed!

-FASP