Sin and worldly pursuits are part of life. Temptations to do wrong are ever present with humans. Jesus said, Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting. (Matthew 18:7) Paul is telling the Galatians that some will fall into sinful activity, but if they do, the brothers and sisters IN CHRIST should help restore them to a wholesome and righteous life. If someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. Christians should help wayward people to find their way out of darkness in a tender and patient manner, not with hurtful, destructive, and accusative words, castigating them for their sinful lives. The kindness of the Lord leads to repentance, not severe and harsh treatment or unkind gossip that does nothing profitable. The structure of the world and its obstinacy to God’s nature of goodness and love will always tempt Christians to do things that are not right, not holy or wholesome. Jesus rightly said, the world tempts people to sin. (Matthew 18:7) As Peter observed, Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) He knew Satan wanted to damage Christian's relationships with God. When people fall into inveterate sin, the devil will attack their salvation experience, claiming the new life within them is but a facade, a made-up fantasy that they want to believe. Therefore, when a Christian is known to be struggling with sin and even doubts about the reality of his or her salvation, other Christians of goodwill should come to that person and encourage the discouraged one to follow Christ and not the fleshly will. Sadly, the world and its structure often rewards evil behavior and deeds, allowing the sinful and fleshly to get ahead. At the same time, they overlook people with integrity who are honest in their dealings with others. Sin can be attractive and deceiving and distract people from what is good. That is why Paul wrote, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8 KJV) Paul warns the Galatians not to fall into the sinful behavior of the person they are trying to restore to a more healthy Christian life. Do not be deceived, no matter how much success a sinful person claims in winning the world and its enjoyments--do not fall into his wayward behavior; watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
Winning the world and its allures or being important in the eyes of people are very fleshly temptations. The disciples struggled with the idea of being important, to be one up on others. At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (Matthew 18:1-5) James and John desired to sit on either side of Jesus in heaven. Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory. (Mark 10:37) Such self-grandizement is hard to realize in the most selfish of men, but here we have this fleshly spirit in two very faithful, dedicated disciples of Jesus saying such self-willed words. This temptation of desiring to be somebody of importance is in all people, men and women. This will of the flesh leads many people to lie to others, to cheat and manipulate others for selfish reasons. When Jesus addresses the disciples in the above scene about the greatest in the kingdom, He calls a little person before him, maybe a little girl. He places the child among them. Of course, they were around Jesus as adults thinking they were important enough to interact with him in a direct, comfortable way. The child was not important to their way of thinking, not deserving Jesus’ attention. In our day, these people probably would be of those who thought of themselves as being super important, worthy to be near Jesus, maybe titans of business, popular politicians, intellectual geniuses. Of course in the scene mentioned, we know these men are Jesus’ disciples, those who were helping him in his ministry, worthy to be in his entourage. But Jesus looks beyond them and calls this little child to him. The child might have had to weave her way through this tight circle of legs surrounding the Messiah. Jesus startles his disciples by saying, Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You MUST CHANGE and be as this little child who is in a lowly position, insignificant, unnoticed by anyone of importance in this world if you want to be IN THE KINGDOM, let alone being important in the kingdom. Probably after hearing that comment, the temptation of their flesh to be greater than others was dealt a fatal blow. To be considered lowly by the world, even a servant of all, was not an attractive role to the flesh. As Paul says to the Galatians, we should stay in our own lane, living for God in our position in life, not attempting to have a one-up on others which leads to sin. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Life should be full of contentment in your own place of living, your own status, position in life. Paul instructed his spiritual son,Timothy, But godliness with contentment is great gain. (1 Timothy 6:6 KJV)
Life is difficult and temptations are constant in this world, but God has the answer for a positive, fulfilling life. Trials and struggles will happen in lives. Sin will always be at the gate, tempting us to do wrong. When Christians fail they often open the door to sin. People need to be ready to restore the weak one back to spiritual good health. As part of the Christian church, we are to help each other maintain a consistent and worthy life IN CHRIST. We are to remind our weaker brother or sister that God has made them right with him through Jesus Christ their Lord and his sacrifice at the cross. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. (Romans 3:22, NLT) Repenting of sin is important; however, righteousness can never be achieved through our own efforts, no matter how strong our wills are. As with all Christians, the Bible instructs us to confess our faults one to another. We are to be realistic in our fleshly lives. Temptation is always with us and sometimes we yield to that which is not good for us. We might do the opposite of what the Holy Spirit desires for us, the opposite of godliness and the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) But our holiness is God’s work, not ours. When we fail and reveal not his wonderful attributes, but the fleshly attributes of the sinful flesh, our hearts are still right with God because of our faith in Jesus Christ and his work, not ours. As people of God, we repent of our nature, but we know by faith in Jesus’ work that we have a changed heart. Our basic desire is to seek the praises of God, not the praises of people. And a person with a changed heart seeks praise from God, not from people. (Romans 2:29, NLT) In today’s focus Paul tells us to restore people who have fallen into a rut of sin, to fulfill the law of Christ by loving others as you would want to be loved. Jesus reveals to us when He heals the man who was blind from birth by placing spittle on his eyes, that the power of God is great. God changes that which has never been such as sight to the blind: from eternal blindness to forever sight. We were once lost, unable to please God, destined for finiteness, but because of the work of Christ, we are found with eternity within our souls. Therefore, breakfast companions, seek God with all your mind, soul, and strength. Help others to seek him likewise; restore the lost, let the weak be found in the eternal light of God and his Son. As you love God with all your heart and you love your neighbor as yourself, you will learn to keep in step with the Spirit. You will put to use the instruction of the Lord!
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