“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.” (Galatians 6:1 NLT)

 

After observing the behavior of some believers, you’d think that they have a verse in their Bibles that says, “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, go and tell as many people as possible. And then set about trying to drive that person away from the faith.” But that’s not what Scripture tells us to do.

Jesus addressed the topic in Matthew 18:15–20. If a fellow believer appears to have fallen into sin, our first responsibility is to approach the person in a spirit of love and say, “I heard that you __________. Is that true?” If the person confesses and repents, the matter is settled.

Unfortunately, that’s not what usually happens. Instead of confronting the person directly, people whisper behind the person’s back. They spread rumors. And many times, they end up slandering an innocent person. If you’ve ever had that happen to you, you know how painful and destructive it can be. But that’s not the end of the damage.

The apostle Paul warned in Galatians 5:9 that a little yeast spreads through a whole batch of dough. In the context of a person suspected of falling into sin, the point is that the fallout from mishandling the situation doesn’t stay isolated between the two people involved. Instead, it works its way through the entire body of believers as people take sides.

So dealing in gossip and slander isn’t just cruel, it’s also self-defeating. In 1 Corinthians 12:12, the apostle Paul wrote, “The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ” (NLT). And in verse 26, he reminded believers what this means: “If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad” (NLT).

We have a vested interest in the spiritual and emotional well-being of our fellow believers. If one person is damaged by innuendo, gossip, or slander, everyone suffers.

If you’re faced with confronting someone suspected of falling into sin, there are a few things to keep in mind. The spirit in which you approach the person is key. In Galatians 6:1, Paul emphasizes the importance of gentleness and humility. “Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself” (NLT).

And instead of getting caught up in sordid details, keep your eye on what’s really happening. Remember that the devil wants to turn believers against each other. He’ll attack us from the outside, but many times, when that doesn’t work, he’ll try to infiltrate our ranks and divide us.

Jesus said, “Love one another” (John 13:34 NIV). With that love comes responsibility. And sometimes that means stepping out of your comfort zone. But if you love someone enough to seek the truth and confront, when necessary, you will strengthen not only the bond between the two of you, but also the entire body of Christ.

Reflection Question: What are some important dos and don’ts for helping someone who has stumbled spiritually? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!

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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

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&ldquo;Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself.&rdquo; (Galatians 6:1 NLT)
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After observing the behavior of some believers, you&rsquo;d think that they have a verse in their Bibles that says, &ldquo;Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, go and tell as many people as possible. And then set about trying to drive that person away from the faith.&rdquo; But that&rsquo;s not what Scripture tells us to do.
Jesus addressed the topic in Matthew 18:15&ndash;20. If a fellow believer appears to have fallen into sin, our first responsibility is to approach the person in a spirit of love and say, &ldquo;I heard that you __________. Is that true?&rdquo; If the person confesses and repents, the matter is settled.
Unfortunately, that&rsquo;s not what usually happens. Instead of confronting the person directly, people whisper behind the person&rsquo;s back. They spread rumors. And many times, they end up slandering an innocent person. If you&rsquo;ve ever had that happen to you, you know how painful and destructive it can be. But that&rsquo;s not the end of the damage.
The apostle Paul warned in Galatians 5:9 that a little yeast spreads through a whole batch of dough. In the context of a person suspected of falling into sin, the point is that the fallout from mishandling the situation doesn&rsquo;t stay isolated between the two people involved. Instead, it works its way through the entire body of believers as people take sides.
So dealing in gossip and slander isn&rsquo;t just cruel, it&rsquo;s also self-defeating. In 1 Corinthians 12:12, the apostle Paul wrote, &ldquo;The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body. So it is with the body of Christ&rdquo; (NLT). And in verse 26, he reminded believers what this means: &ldquo;If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad&rdquo; (NLT).
We have a vested interest in the spiritual and emotional well-being of our fellow believers. If one person is damaged by innuendo, gossip, or slander, everyone suffers.
If you&rsquo;re faced with confronting someone suspected of falling into sin, there are a few things to keep in mind. The spirit in which you approach the person is key. In Galatians 6:1, Paul emphasizes the importance of gentleness and humility. &ldquo;Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself&rdquo; (NLT).
And instead of getting caught up in sordid details, keep your eye on what&rsquo;s really happening. Remember that the devil wants to turn believers against each other. He&rsquo;ll attack us from the outside, but many times, when that doesn&rsquo;t work, he&rsquo;ll try to infiltrate our ranks and divide us.
Jesus said, &ldquo;Love one another&rdquo; (John 13:34 NIV). With that love comes responsibility. And sometimes that means stepping out of your comfort zone. But if you love someone enough to seek the truth and confront, when necessary, you will strengthen not only the bond between the two of you, but also the entire body of Christ.
Reflection Question: What are some important dos and don&rsquo;ts for helping someone who has stumbled spiritually? <a href="https://disciple.harvest.org/spaces/17592429/feed?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestDiscipleship">Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship!</a>
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The audio production of the podcast "Daily Devotions from Greg Laurie" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.
<a href="https://go.pddr.app/glpodcast">Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast</a>
<a href="https://harvest.org/harvest-partner/?utm_source=DD&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=HarvestPartners">Become a Harvest Partner</a>

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God’s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from Pastor Greg Laurie, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you. 

*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known."

All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

If you want to be successful in the Christian life, you must have a mind full of God&rsquo;s Word. Refresh your mind with it daily, right here. Each day, you'll receive a verse and commentary from&nbsp;<a href="https://harvest.org/about-greg-laurie/">Pastor Greg Laurie</a>, who offers biblical insight through humor, personal stories, and cultural commentary. Start listening and hear what God has to say to you.&nbsp;
*The audio production of this podcast utilizes Generative AI technology.&nbsp;This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie.

Greg Laurie provides commentary on the day's Bible verse.

Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions

Loving one another involves confronting and helping people who have sinned.