YOU WHO ARE SPIRITUAL
Galatians 6:1-3 NKJV
6 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. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
If you ask a lot of people what a spiritual person looks like, you will get a lot of answers. For some, being spiritual is on the borderline of being weird. For others, it’s someone who seems to be in touch with another realm. Some people think being spiritual involves knowing and quoting Scripture. While some believe being spiritual is revealed in how differently one lives from worldly people. In our verses for today, we have a good indicator of someone who is spiritual. And spoiler alert, it doesn’t look weird or other worldly.
Spiritual people restore someone who is overtaken in a fault or sin. Restore is very different from judge or point fingers. Restore is to help someone get back on the right track. And notice that restoration is for those believers who have been overcome by sin. A believer who gets off the path is restored. An unbeliever has to be reconciled to God. They need to be brought to a relationship with the Lord. You can’t restore someone who has never had a relationship with God through the Lord Jesus.
Restoration is to be done with a spirit of gentleness. If someone is restoring a painting, it is done gently. Someone restoring anything of value is not harsh. Demolition is harsh, restoration is gentle. Another reason to be gentle is to avoid pride. Pride is a precursor to a fall. So gentle restoration involves keeping in mind that all of us can be subject to temptation.
Bear each other’s burdens and fulfill the law of Christ. Jesus commanded us to love one another. As our example, He did not please Himself, but did what was right for us. Romans 15 tells those who are strong, we can add spiritual, to bear with the weak and not to please ourselves. The law of Christ is not doing only what is good for us but what is good for others, that helps them and builds them up.
I like how the NLT translates verse three, “If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.” I like to use the NLT to add color, although no one can accuse this version of being too fluffy. None of us is too important to help another. And Paul is still referring to someone who is spiritual. Spiritual people do not think they are too important.
APPLICATION
Spiritual people are recognized by their conduct toward others. This is why people can get disillusioned by church people. They mistakenly think that people who go to church are spiritual. Spiritual people do value the church, but it’s what they do when they are not in church that determines the level of spirituality.
So, if I am examining myself as to whether or not I am becoming a spiritual person, I will look at how I treat others, how I treat others who have messed up. Am I willing to pitch in and help others get on the right track? And do I have to tell other people how I helped a brother or sister in Christ?
The goal is to become a spiritual person who is a blessing to those around them, just like Jesus.
PRAYER
Show me, Lord, where I can improve in being a spiritual person. I want to represent You well.