Lately I have been distracted, many of you might sympathize with that statement. It’s easy to be distracted these days, both with media being shoved down our throats like someone being waterboarded. But I am talking about distractions that are far more sneaky, more dastardly, and just down right “gotcha”.
I was reading from the great letter of Paul to the Galatian Christians this morning, in one of those, “Flip open the Bible” moments, I landed on Galatians chapter six, specifically on this passage:

“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. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load.”Galatians 6:1 – 5 ESV

I found myself flabbergasted this morning reading that. For one, It was exactly what I needed to be reminded of, being in ministry is often a lot of “people work”, people work can be daunting, even depressing at times, constantly being surrounded by those who are struggling with sin, that often times one can loose sight or be distracted from the temptations of sin in their own life. Especially when it comes from people in the flock of Christ that are supposed to be trusted and more mature. But it doesn’t change the nature of, “you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.”
This can oft times be a daunting task, the tack and diplomacy of trying to use a spirit of gentleness is met with resistance and frustration, but then again, no one said it was going to be easy, but as I am often reminded,

“only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.”C.S. Lewis

And thus, if I truly love those who God has placed in my care, that I am fortunate to under-shepherd, then the risk is most definitely worth it. I am called to shepherd a part or portion of God’s massive flock, and in so doing to be a good steward which at times requires gentle rebuke of behavior and sins that I am witness too…
These sins, are not as obvious, and rarely do I need to rebuke sins such as, adultery, or covetous behavior. No, rather I am often surrounded by sin like, pride and arrogance. I see it in youth and in seasoned individuals, The notion that “I am right, I know how to do this and I don’t need you to tell me otherwise.” Is something I’m meet with, far more than the latter. However I am constantly reminded of Paul’s words; “Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
That you and I should bear one another’s burdens, that means that we too should bear with stubbornness and pride, arrogance, slander, and other types of sin… because in so doing we too are fulfilling the law of Christ. Which if you recall reads this way:

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment.Matthew 22:36 – 38 ESV

That comes from Matthew 22:36 – 38 ESV. That is the Law of Christ, that we should love one another and love God. If I really love other Christians I will bear with their burdens. Not that I can take pride that they might heed my warnings, because I cannot be saved by their repented ways (see verse four and five) But that I, because of love, desire to see them repent and be reconciled with Christ.
This is a constant reminder, and a great encouragement for ministry, it reminds me to really love the sheep of God, of which I am one as well. Regardless of where they currently stand or what they are dealing with. I too must bear with their burdens because I care more about the person than their current plight or situation.

I hope that in reading this, you like myself, would be reminded that when people in your life are dealing with burdens that you might be the spiritual person, that you might be witness to the amazing and awesome move of the Holy Spirit, to see a reconciliation in a persons life.