One of the greatest blessings of this journey of sanctification is the never ending growth we experience!
As Christian, I have learned that I really...Have a lot to learn! And by God's grace I can life a full life to get every punce of knowledge I can out of Scripture.
I'm thinking back to when I was first baptized, and those initial first few years I was soaking up so much.
New things were being given light to me, and it seemed like every page I turned in my bible, there was new things to discover. I literally had 'aha moments' one after another, and while the fire has come and gone over the years....Every time I open God's word, something new is shown to me.
Including this verse....
O.K., if you have read any of my previous blog posts about my faith you'll know, I read the King James Version. And sometimes, it can be a little tricky to break down what the old english was trying to get across. So when I discovered this verse and did a deeper study on it, I needed another transltion to confirm what I 'thought' it read...
"Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well..."
Taken from the NASB
This was another one of my famous aha moments in Scripture when I re-read a verse so many times over the years but then new light is shown to me and I REALLY get it.
The biggest take away from this for me is to remember.....We are always judged by the light God lets us see. And just because someone might disagree with you or debate with your convictions....Doesn't mean you are to belittle them. Or tear them down.
Because remember....Speaking for me personally here....I was very much into the world. I didn't know truth. I had no idea about spiritual things. Yet God was merciful to me.
So doesn't that mean we should be merciful to others? Just because they don't have the same light as you, or disagree with you, doesn't mean A THING because....We are all sinners. Sure we can sit and respectfully debate but look at the KJV there, where the verse says.....CONSIDERING THYSELF......
Remember, you weren't a bible scholar immediately lol Heaven knows I'm still working on that lol
But the point is, be humble. Gentle. The spirit of meekness is required. I would combine this verse with Isaiah 1:18...
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD..."
Sharing our faith, discussing spiritual things, even respectfully debating with one another....I don't see this as the spirit of conflict but of standing firm in our faith and beliefs. It's how we approach those discussions....Will show our spirit to the world.
