Stand Firm - What it Means to Stand

Galatians 6:1-10 (NIV)

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

(Read the full passage at: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/gal.6.1-10)

Remember those days during lockdown when exploration was limited to our immediate surroundings? My family and I discovered a "back route" into a vast country park – a path less traveled, involving a steep ravine, a stream crossing, and a precarious single-file trail. It was challenging, certainly, but it eventually led to serene bluebell woods and a peaceful path back home.

Our journey through Paul's letter to the Galatians has felt a bit like that. We've navigated challenging theological terrain, wrestled with cultural differences, and felt the "sting" of Paul's passionate defense of grace and the inner battle between flesh and Spirit. It's been a profound, often challenging, but ultimately delightful exploration.

Now, as we arrive at Chapter 6, the final stretch, you might expect smooth sailing. But Paul, ever the astute guide, still has practical truths to impart. Having passionately argued for salvation by grace, not works, he now reminds us that this grace calls us to good works – works of love. Love for God, for our neighbors, and for ourselves. He zeroes in on how this plays out practically within the church community.

Carrying Each Other: The Heart of Restoration

Galatians 6:1-2 (NIV)

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." -

(Read the full passage at: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/gal.6.1-2.NIV)

Pause for a moment and consider: is "restoring gently" the first thought that comes to mind when someone in the church stumbles? Our natural inclination often leans towards justice, perhaps even a desire for retribution. We see this play out in public discourse, where missteps, even minor ones, can trigger a "cancel culture" demanding swift and severe consequences.

Think about the recent public outcry surrounding certain figures in the media who faced severe repercussions for their actions. While accountability is crucial and offenses should be addressed, the question arises: what about restoration?

Historically, some organisations, even those identifying as Christian, have sadly mishandled serious offenses. Driven by a misguided desire to "protect the Gospel's reputation," they sometimes covered up wrongdoing, silenced victims, and allowed offenders to continue.

This is profoundly wrong and a clear deviation from biblical principles (Matthew 18:15-20). It has contributed to the erosion of trust in institutions. For instance, a 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center found that only 35% of U.S. adults have a "great deal" or "fair amount" of confidence in religious institutions, a significant decline from 52% in 1985. The reasons for this decline are complex, but certainly, how organisations handle wrongdoing plays a part.

Yet, the pendulum can also swing too far in the opposite direction, leading to a "virtual lynch mob" mentality where even slight missteps are met with disproportionate condemnation and "cancellation." This isn't right either.

So, how do we navigate this tension between justice and mercy? Allow me to provide a crucial distinction, illustrated by two boys and a thorny bush:

• Boy 1: Defiantly disobeys his parents, wanders into the woods laughing at his mischief, falls down a hole into a bush and gets tangled.

• Boy 2: Through curiosity and unawareness, wanders into the same woods, stumbles, falls down a hole into a bush and gets tangled.

While both boys need rescue, their parents' reactions will differ. The first boy's parents will likely feel frustration at his defiance. The second, concern and perhaps relief.

Paul's instruction in Galatians 6:1 is not about defiant, open rebellion, which he addresses elsewhere with clear calls for discipline (Romans 1:18-32, 1 Corinthians 5, Revelation 2:20-23). Such hardened hearts may not respond to gentleness.

Instead, Paul is speaking of the "lost sheep" (Luke 15:3-11) – those who, through ignorance, naivety, or genuine struggle, have stumbled into sin. He's talking about the "accidental addicts," the well-intentioned who were "hoodwinked" by false teaching, or those whose "good idea has gone bad" and now regret their choices. These are the shame-filled, the confused, the weary – the ones who need gentle restoration.

And yes, we must be careful not to fall into the same traps. But our primary call is to help them, gently, because in doing so, we fulfill the "Royal Law" of love. We, too, were saved by grace. Let us carry each other, bearing each other home to Jesus.

2. Carrying Ourselves: Humility and Self-Assessment

Galatians 6:3-6 (NIV)

"If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions. Then they can take pride in themselves alone, without comparing themselves to someone else, for each one should carry their own load. Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor."

(Read the full passage at: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/gal.6.3-6.NIV)

This passage offers a powerful antidote to a pervasive modern ill: entitlement and comparison. We've all encountered it, whether in reality TV "stars" with inflated egos, influencers demanding lavish perks, or even those in spiritual leadership seeking undue adulation. The common reaction? Dislike. Why? Because it often stems from a perceived superiority that grates against our own sense of worth.

Yet, we also fall prey to the opposite trap: constantly comparing ourselves to others.

Marketing, social media, and influencer culture thrive on this. We see what others have, what they achieve, and a whisper begins: "I want that. I need to be like them." This is where destructive comparison takes root.

Paul's message is clear:

2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)

"When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise"

(Read the full passage at: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/2co.10.12)

Imagine a vast ladder, stretching into the sky, with people on every rung. You're somewhere in the middle. Look down, and you might feel a fleeting sense of superiority. Look up, and envy can easily set in. Your position isn't the problem; your perspective is.

The truth? When you fix your gaze on Jesus, you'll feel loved, grateful, and satisfied.

Paul urges us to break free from this comparison trap. Stop it. Turn off the noise. Instead, focus on your walk with God. Concentrate on personal progress: removing sin, deepening your understanding of His Word, seeking His will and His glory. This is how you truly love God and yourself.

The Bible offers no positive spin on envy. It is consistently portrayed as a destructive force:

• Exodus 20:17 & Deuteronomy 5:21: "You shall not covet..." – a direct commandment against desiring what belongs to another.

• Ecclesiastes 4:4: "And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind."

• Proverbs 14:30: "A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones."

• Mark 7:20-23: Jesus lists envy as something that comes from within and defiles a person.

• James 3:16: "For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice."

• 1 Corinthians 13:4: "Love does not envy..."

The message is profound in its simplicity: Stop comparing yourself to others. Get off the ladder. Run your own race, striving for your personal best in your walk with God. That is the true path to mental and spiritual well-being. So many talented individuals tragically succumb to the pressure of comparison. Our goal isn't to "win" life's race against others, but to run faithfully towards Christ.

3. Pleasing the Spirit: Sowing for Life

Galatians 6:7-10 (NIV)

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

(Read the full passage at: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/gal.6.7-10.NIV)

Perhaps the idea of "pleasing the Spirit" feels as daunting as assembling IKEA furniture with cryptic instructions. Yet, Paul has already laid the groundwork. In Galatians 5, he eloquently spoke of our freedom in Christ (vv. 13-15), the inner battle between flesh and Spirit (vv. 16-18), the "acts of the flesh" (vv. 19-21), and the glorious "fruit of the Spirit" (vv. 22-26).

So, how do you please the Spirit? It's remarkably simple: Say "No" to the flesh and "Yes" to the Spirit.

Paul reinforces this with the timeless principle of sowing and reaping: what you plant, you will harvest. Sow to the flesh, and you'll reap destruction. Sow to the Spirit, and you'll reap eternal life.

What does "doing good" look like when we sow to the Spirit? Look no further than the "fruit of the Spirit":

Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."

(Read the full passage at: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/gal.5.22-23.NIV)

Paul desired the Galatians to consider their flesh "crucified" – dead and no longer to be heeded – and instead to listen only to the Holy Spirit.

While the words are clear, the application is challenging, especially in a divided community like the Galatian church. Paul calls them to first demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit within the church, then to outsiders. He asks them to apply it in the most difficult of settings: among those who are irritating and annoying.

Do you see it? Paul is telling the Galatians that love, expressed through actively "doing good to all," is the ultimate cure for disunity. Love is the healing balm for their wounds. Love, and only love, will mend their broken church.

Conclusion: The Enduring Value of Love

Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

(Read the full passage at: https://www.bible.com/bible/111/mat.22.34-40.NIV)

Just as teams on the BBC TV show"Bargain Hunt" seek out hidden value in seemingly ordinary objects, so too must we recognize the immense value within Galatians 6. It might not scream "groundbreaking theology" at first glance, but it provides the essential soil for the fruit of the Spirit to flourish in our lives.

Paul is applying the foundational principle of loving God, loving our neighbors, and loving ourselves directly and practically to the challenging situation within the Galatian church.

They were confused, divided by false teachers, and perhaps disheartened. Here, Paul offers them the blueprint for a better way:

• Help those who have wandered back to Jesus.

• Don't compare yourself to others.

• Show love to all, especially to fellow believers.

This is the formula for a thriving Christian life. And it's all rooted in the amazing grace God has extended to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. These verses are not to be skimmed over or neglected; by obeying them, we live a life that honors God and brings true fulfillment.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, I see it now. I see how You want me to live. I want to live a life driven by love for You, my neighbours, and myself. I want others to see the difference and to want it too. Show me how. Amen.

Questions for Reflection

1. What fundamental Christian principle is Paul emphasizing throughout Galatians 6? Where else in Scripture do we see this principle highlighted?

2. How does the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22-23) provide practical guidance for "pleasing the Spirit" in our daily lives?

3. Considering the three main points of this passage (carrying each other, carrying ourselves, pleasing the Spirit), which area do you feel most challenged to improve in your own life right now, and why?