Extend Grace!

 

James 3:2 says in many things we all stumble. If any stumble not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body.

Galatians 6:1-3 says if anyone is overtaken in sin you who are spiritual are to restore such a person 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 a man think himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.

Because of this reality, we who are mature need to extend grace to those who are in sin. This is not the time to criticize our brother and sister in Christ, but to love them.

We need to strike a delicate balance here. It is essential the offender acknowledge their sin so they can repent before the Lord and be restored. At the same time, we must offer grace to the one in sin so that they are not overcome with grief.

It is very easy to point the finger and criticize our brother and sister who is not behaving as a child of God should. Remember this, we have been delivered from the power of sin, the penalty of sin, but currently not the presence of sin. Sin still reigns in our bodies so the struggle to disobey God is ever present with us. To get a vivid picture of this intense struggle, read Paul’s struggle with his flesh in Romans chapter 7. Paul bemoans his spirit and flesh war within himself. The Lord knew we would sin even as believers, so he provided us relief in 1 John1:9, if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So, since God extends everlasting grace to us, shouldn’t we extend grace to one another?

Keep in mind there will be times when we all are defeated by our sin. The last thing we want is for someone to beat us over the head with Bible when we have already been smitten guilty by the Spirit of God. Remember, God is our judge, we are not to play God and condemn one another. Rather we are to help each other by loving restoration. Let’s see how we can help one another by building up, not tearing down. Let’s be constructive and not destructive toward one another.

Only the humble in Spirit can do this.

Remember we are many members but one body. When one is victorious, we are all victorious. When one is struggling, we are all struggling. We are at different levels in our walk with Jesus. Let’s learn to appreciate those differences even when we do not understand or agree with them. When we decide to extend grace to one another, endeavor to understand one another by listening, then we as Christ’s body will be more mature, less desirous to sin, and a brighter light to a spiritual dark and hopeless world.