“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.” (Gal. 6:1). This scripture is deep in truth and power.  I’m reading “Total Forgiveness”, by R.T. Kendall, which is an outstanding book so far.  In it he describes a scenario that directly illustrates the significance of this scripture.  “A few years ago two elders had the task of approaching a man in their church who was in an adulterous relationship.  On their way to the man’s house, one elder said to the other, ‘Do you believe that you too could fall into this sin?’  The reply was, ‘No.’  The elder who asked the question then said, ‘You are not qualified to approach this man’ — and the visit was cancelled.”

This is a great example of holding to scripture without straining, so as to rely on human strength, which is in fact weak and worthless.  Mature believers love the word of God. The Pharisees in Yeshua’s time claimed to follow the word, but opposed and rejected their Messiah, Yeshua, who was the Word of God.  They condemned people rather than show mercy.  They misunderstood and misapplied the scriptures.  They put their traditions and self-interest above the word of God — they were hypocrites.   With our forgiveness we must forgive others.  In the Lord’s prayer, we pray , “Forgive us as we forgive our debtors.”  To do otherwise makes us hypocritical.  May the Lord, Yeshua, keep our hearts and eyes fixed on Him, so that we will love as we are loved, forgive as we are forgiven, and set free others as we have been set free ourselves.