#DailyDevotion Don’t Be A Stingy, Lazy Christian But Let The Gospel Lead You

Gal 6:1-10  Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.  (2)  Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  (3)  For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.  (4)  But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.  (5)  For each will have to bear his own load.  (6)  Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.  (7)  Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.  (8)  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.  (9)  And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.  (10)  So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

As usual in Paul’s letters, there are some concluding remarks as living as Christians. Galatians is no different. We are told if we catch anyone in any transgression, those who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Those who are spiritual are those who are led by the gospel, the forgiveness of sins. If you are led by the law, if that is your focus, you probably should just leave them alone. It’s not that those led by the gospel will not present the law, but the law will not be the main focus. Restoring people back to faith is the power of the gospel. However, even they must watch out because it is so easy to slip back into law mode.

Bear one another’s burdens. Christians are not called to be solely individuals. We are all one body in Christ. The parts of body doing well should assist the parts not doing so well. To bear one another’s burdens is to forgive sins (particularly against ourselves), providing the necessities of life, living with the weakness of their flesh, and being merciful and kind. Doing this fulfills the law of Christ. The law of Christ is more than love your neighbor as yourself. It is to love one another as Christ has loved us. That means should make sacrifices for one another.

Judge yourself, i.e. your own works. Let them, i.e. your works boast in yourself. In other words don’t compare yourself with your neighbor. You have enough to do comparing yourself with yourself and Christ Jesus. You do have to bear your own load, i.e. your cross. No one can bear it for you. But we can all lift one another up and lessen their load with prayer, encouragement and sacrifice.

Share all good things with your pastors and those who teach you the word of God. All good things is your wealth. Open your wallets, break our your check books, don’t just give them what you’re getting rid of out of your freezer, but rather treat them as what your are giving as giving it to the Lord himself. You wouldn’t give Jesus that. What you sow is what you reap. Giving them your wealth is sowing seeds that will bear fruit to eternal life. If you are stingy towards them you are stingy towards God. To be generous towards them is sowing to the Spirit.



Finally don’t grow weary in doing good. You will receive eternal rewards for the good works you do in faith. They are not forgotten by God. Yes we all receive eternal life but the Lord is not giving in the world to come everyone the same thing. We will have separate rewards according to what we have done in this life. Don’t be a lazy Christian and say, “Well getting to heaven is good enough for me.” So do good to everyone but especially those of the household of faith. You’re going to be living with these people (the household of faith) for all eternity. For all we know they won’t need your good works to them then. But they certainly need them today.

Heavenly Father, so guide us by your Holy Spirit that the good news, the forgiveness of sins, the gift of eternal life and your mercy in Christ Jesus always leads us into all good works and the avoidance of everything evil. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.