FRIDAY, JULY 24
“Go and sin no more.”
John 8:11 (NLT2)
GENTLENESS: SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE
There was a man that told his friend that they had dismissed their pastor. His friend asked why. The man said, “Because he told us we we’re going to hell.” The friend asked, “What does your new pastor say?” The man said, “He says we’re going to hell, too!” The friend said, “So what’s the difference?” The man said, “When the first pastor said it, he sounded like he was glad about it. When the new pastor says it, it sounds like it’s breaking his heart.”
When Jesus showed mercy to the woman caught in adultery, He didn’t tell her that her sin was okay. In fact, He told her to not sin anymore. He showed her love by forgiving her, but He also showed her love by telling her the truth.
Galatians 6:1 makes it clear how we should treat someone who is struggling with sin. “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” This verse has a call to gently help restore sinners but also a warning to be careful we don’t fall into temptation. Ask God to give you a heart that breaks for people around you caught in sin. Also ask God to help you be careful when it comes to temptation in your own life.
