Daily Devotional for Sunday, April 9

Meet the Needs of Others

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself,” Galatians 6:1-3.

When we think of meeting the needs of others, our thoughts often move to buying groceries or helping with a home improvement project. Rarely would we consider accountability and discipleship as meeting someone’s needs. Our key verses tell us how to meet the needs of someone who has been overtaken in a fault. This is a powerful way to meet someone’s needs.
Often when someone is overtaken in sin, Satan will convince them that they are a failure or that they should quit. Satan loves nothing more than tempting a Christian to sin, pouring on shame when they do sin, then convincing them to quit serving God altogether because they have sinned. When we consider how Satan attacks Christians in their sin, it is easy for us to surmise the value of walking with someone after they have sinned.
Our key verses command us to bear one another’s burdens in the context of a brother or sister who has fallen in sin. Greater than buying groceries for a friend or helping with a home improvement project is the opportunity to lift the burden from a Christian who has sinned. There are few acts of faith more profound than loving a Christian out of their sin and lifting the weight of guilt and shame from their shoulders.

THOUGHT: If you know of a Christian who is walking in sin, let them know you love them and offer to carry their burden with them. Your encouragement may be exactly what they need to restore their fellowship with God.

Steven Ridings