September 22, 2025 | Be God's Family
Spirit of Gentleness
Scripture: Galatians 6:1-5(NIV)
1 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. 4 Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, 5 for each one should carry their own load.
Devotional
I grew up in northern Indiana in the middle of Amish country. Fun fact – my great-great grandmother WAS Amish......a story for another day. One of the practices of the Amish is shunning. When an individual is found to have committed a forbidden offense, they’re forced to face separation and exclusion from church, family and social activities. This exclusion includes not eating, working, worshipping or associating with others in the community. One of the Biblical bases for this practice is 1 Corinthians 5:11: “You must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister (who) is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people.” Shunning, also known as Meidung, is meant as a form of punishment. The offender experiences rejection, guilt, shame and isolation. But the goal is always for the individual to repent and return to the community.
The Galatians may not have practiced shunning in this way, but today’s passage focuses on bringing those who do stray back into the fold. We are told to restore those who may have strayed away from the path “gently”. Gently...... How do we do this? Gentleness is one of the Fruit of the Spirit. It’s the way in which we should always treat our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. We should never treat them with an attitude of condemnation, judgement or criticism. They may already be feeling the immense weight of guilt and the heavy burden of shame. We should not add to that burden. “Now is the time to forgive this man and help him back on his feet. If all you do is pour on the guilt, you could very well drown him in it. My counsel now is to pour on the love.” (2 Corinthians 2:6-8, The Message)
“Pour on the love.” That’s what they truly need, not criticism and condemnation. The Message translates verses 1-3 in this way – “forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed......if you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.” We should take this to heart. In our attempts to restore others, we risk becoming self-righteous. We should never think we are “too good” or morally superior to anyone else. Who knows when we will be the one needing forgiveness and restoration.
The Amish community welcomes back their members, after repentance and a commitment to return to the Amish way. Similarly, we should always act with a spirit of gentleness as we encourage and welcome individuals back into our own community of faith.
Poem
Afflicted
Psalm 129
“They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,” let Israel say; “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me. Plowmen have plowed my back and made their furrows long. But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”
Psalm 129:1-4
I cannot remember a day
Even as a babe, a child, a youth
When I did not struggled against an enemy
Deep within
An affliction? A battle?
‘Gainst spirit and truth
Which caused deep ruts and stagnation
Within my worship
Lord, bring alongside me
A true friend, unafraid to hurt me
Who will hold me accountable
To You
Lord, bring alongside me
My True Advocate to rein me
To chide and exhort me back
To You
Cut the binding cords my afflicters and
Set my heart aflame with tears
That I might be free to be a true worshipper
In Spirit and in Truth
