Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

August 6
Thursday


BREATH MINT,
ANYONE?

READ:
Galatians 6:1-5
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Bear one another's
burdens, and so fulfill
the law of Christ.
__Galatians 6:2
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A new Web site helps you tell a co-worker what you're afraid to say in person. Comments like: "A breath mint would be beneficial today" or "Your cell phone ringer is very loud today" or "Your perfume/cologne is very strong on a regular basis." You confront issues anonymously by having the Web site send an e-mail message for you.

It's understandable that we're cautious in talking to others about something that bothers us. But when it comes to confronting fellow believers about their sin, that's serious. We might wish we could do it anonymously, yet we have to do it face to face.

Galatians 6:1-5 offers some guidelines for confronting a fellow Christian who is living a sinful lifestyle. The first requirement is that we're close to the Lord ourselves, and that we don't exalt ourselves as superior to the one who is sinning. Then we are to look at the situation as restoring the person, not bringing condemnation. We're to have "a spirit of gentleness," all the while keeping in mind that we too may be tempted. Jesus also gave instructions that can help us with issues of sin against us personally (Matt. 7:1-5; 18:15-20).

With God's enablement we can courageously and sensitively confront and restore others. __Anne Cetas
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```````````````````Lord, give us courage to confront``````````````
`````````````````````Believers who have strayed,````````````````
```````````````````And then with gentleness restore``````````````
```````````````````By coming to their aid. __sper````````````````
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To help people get back on the right path,
walk with them and show them the way.

***********Today's Bible Reading __ Galatians 6:1-5***************

1 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. 4 But let
each one examine his own
work, and then he will have
rejoicing in himself alone,
and not in another. 5 For
each one shall bear his
own load.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The region of Galatia was familiar ground for the apostle Paul.
Easton's Bible Dictionary says: "This province of Galatia...was
the central region of Asia Minor. During his second missionary
journey Paul, accompanied by Silas and Timothy (Acts 16:6), visited
the 'region of Galatia,' where he was detained by sickness (Gal.
4:13) and had thus the longer opportunity of preaching to them the
gospel. On his third journey he went over 'all the country of Galatia
and Phrygia in order' (Acts 18:23). Crescens was sent [there] by Paul
toward the close of his life (2 Tim. 4:10)." __BILL CROWDER