The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Galatians 6:1-7, “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
4 But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.
5 For each one will bear his own load.
6 The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him.
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”

There’s no mistake about it: Paul speaks his mind and gets right to the heart of
the problem. Most of us believers (myself included) should/must adhere to the
teaching in these verses. Too often we “ah, HA!” when someone is discovered
doing wrong. Paul says that we should be gentle and restore in love and kindness
those who fall into sin.

If you’ve ever been caught doing or saying something you ought not to have done,
you have but to be greatful for those who taught you in kindness and love and
helped your restoration in fellowship with the LORD and with His people. Those
who pretend to be Christians, yet do not assist in the rehabilitation of a sinner, are
living outside of the Apostle’s directive.

Undoubtedly, there are multiple reasons for us to examine ourselves and our
works. It’s so easy to blame others for their sins; yet, we who stand by and look on
are ourselves as guilty as they. There is more than one way to mock God. And we
are warned by instruction that “whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (v. 7).

This passage warns us even as it encourages us not to “think that (we) are something.” Rather, it is we who have been “taught the Word (and are) to share all good things with the one who (is) teaching (us).”

Pray for your pastors and teachers. They have a heavy burden as they pray for us
and teach us the Word. Don’t ever think (much less, believe) that you’ve arrivedThere’s so much that we do not know — much that we will never know! Thus, we
must study to show ourselves approved of God. He is pleased when He sees us
studying and learning and growing daily to be more like Him.

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.
Springdale, Arkansas 72764
United States of America

“We never know that Christ is all we need until He becomes all that we have.” – Corrie ten Boom