PODCAST
Gentleness In Identifying Sin
July 6th, 2017
Galatians 5:13-26
As a boy, my pastor/father would admonish us saying, “Before you say anything about anyone, ask yourself the questions, ‘Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?’” He would then tell us that if the answer to any one of those questions was “no,” then we should not say what we were thinking of saying.
Paul’s instruction in Galatians 5 to “walk by the Spirit” has a similar ring to it, especially as he describes the fruit of the Spirit. We often encounter behaviors in others that do not coincide with a Christian life-style. We really do want to help them leave their sins and follow the way of Jesus. But, we must not bluntly confront these errors as sins. Rather we trust the Holy Spirit to guide us. The fruit of the Spirit needs to be evident as we confront others. Our genuine love for them enables us to speak with self-control so that we can speak kindly and gently and not interfere with what the Holy Spirit is saying to them. Only the Spirit can turn people from their sin and turn them to Jesus.
Author: David Restrick
