“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.” (Gal. 6:1)

By caught, Paul is not implying “seeing in the act,” but rather that the transgressor is imprisoned by the sin. Caught up in the sin, we would say. The emphasis is on the transgression’s nature of taking prisoner the Christian. When Christians see a fellow Christian being led into captivity by sin they must act. There are some necessary requirements for the brother to get involved in the restoration.

The one attempting restoration must first check his own eye before clearing the eye of a brother or sister. Paul says the one attempting restoration should be spiritual. They should also be a gentle person. Lastly, they need to keep a constant check on their motives and actions in the restoration process.

Being spiritual follows on the heels of Paul’s conversation about the work of the Spirit in the life of the child of God. One could well assume that this is a follow-up to that teaching. He suggested that the Galatians walk by the Spirit, be led by the Spirit, live by the Spirit, and produce the fruit of the Spirit.

One who is walking, being led and living by the Spirit will produce Spiritual fruit. That fruit will allow them to restore a transgressor in the same Spirit. That fruit includes love, kindness, and gentleness, all characteristics needed by a restorer of the fallen.

Even the spiritual one must keep watch. Evil is always nigh. The Devil would love nothing more than being able to temp one of the people led by Spirit. The spiritual person must not become proud of his or her spiritual status as this is a sure way to temptation. It is dangerous to get so involved in what others are doing that we become a castaway. It was Paul’s concern and should be ours.

Task for Today: Stay focused on your production of spiritual fruit, walk in the Spirit, be led by the Spirit and live by the Spirit. Then be ready when needed to help a brother or sister who is struggling with sin. Maintain a spirit of gentleness.