Restore him in a spirit of gentleness

I am not gentle in the face of sin; I am harsh and unyielding. I want retribution and payback. God is not a God of retribution, just look at the cross. Is that retribution? No, it is restoration. God is his desire to have a relationship with us bore our sins on the cross. We killed a man, the son of God. Armed with that perspective and gift how then should I respond to others’ sin? God is calling us to give to our brothers and sisters the very thing he gave to us, restoration. He longs for us to be free from the bonds of sin and the burdens of this life.

v.1 Restore him in a spirit of gentleness

v.2 Bear on another’s burdens

v.6 Share all good things

v.7 Sow in the spirit

v.9 Do not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap if we don’t give up

v.10 As we have opportunity let us do good to everyone

Perhaps you find yourself in the same place I do this morning. I am reaping what I have sown earlier in my marriage and parenting and feel the weight of my sin. I can see the hurt I have caused, and I wonder if it will ever get better, if wounds can heal? Then I can see the wisdom of God burst forth through the scriptures above. Restore, bear, share, sow, DON’T GIVE UP! Restoration is a process; it takes much work and many layers to peel back the dirt and grime to reveal the beauty of the original piece. God is working in you and me, we have been restored through the cross and he will continue to gently restore our beauty if we don’t give up!