“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” (Gal 6:1).

I cannot prove it, but I believe there was a dark side to the soul of the apostle Paul which he was well aware of and wanted to control. One day it would be nice to be able to discuss the matter with him if time and opportunity in the eternal state allows.

 

The dark side of the soul of Paul was a unholy censorious spirit rooted in religious zeal. This part of Paul was manifested prior to his conversion to Christ as he sought to arrest people and put them in jail for what he considered was a violation of the Law of God within the context of Pharisaic Judaism  (Acts 9:1-2). Following his conversion the zeal of Paul for righteousness in himself and others is reflected in his censorious spirit of John Mark (Acts 15:36-41) and later with Peter, who was to blame (Galatians 2:11).

 

While Paul displayed a censorious spirit as a manifestation of his personal temperament and because he believed it was his gospel duty, I am not sure he totally liked that part of himself reflected in part by his desire that others be gentle with those who erred. In this, there is no inconsistency. It is not uncommon for individuals to want others to be better than they are. Certainly parents are prone to train their children to be different than what they are and not make the same mistakes or transgressions they themselves have made in life.

 

As a spiritual father in the faith Paul instructed the Galatian brethren who considered themselves to be spiritual minded to seek to restore someone overtake in a fault. The primary objective is not to remove someone who has erred, nor to destroy them in the process of correction, but to restore individuals to a spiritual state of righteous and to do so with meekness.  Simply stated, those who take it upon themselves to correct and censor someone else must meet established biblical criteria.

 

Time and again I have witnessed situations in the church whereby a member became angry with someone and began first secretly and then openly to remove the object of their anger from their presence and the presence of the congregation. What I have personally never witnessed is an individual who considered themself spiritual but possessing a militant censorious spirit being verbally gentle or manifesting an altruistic noble objective such as preserving the integrity of the church.

 

When an individual is worthy of correction because they have been overtaken in a fault, it is proper for the spiritual leadership to reprove, rebuke and exhort them (2 Timothy 4:2), but it must be done with tears in the eyes, brokenness of heart, and with a spirit of meekness. Only when these characteristics are manifested in the personality of those who have a zeal for God to correct others will good results come and the Lord will bless.

 

While sharing a birthday dinner with some new acquaintances, I mentioned how much I enjoyed the German music playing in the restaurant. The comment had no motive beyond a mere observation of how lovely the music was. I was therefore surprised when one of the people who had been at the table the night before walked up to me the next day and presented me with a wrapped gift. When I opened the gift it was a CD recording of German music. My heart was touched by this random act of kindness for those who shared collectively in the cost did not know me well.

 

Though relatively inexpensive the gift I received became like a precious stone in my eyes. As I considered the item, I remembered that behind ever gift is a giver and the giver is more important than the gift. I am deeply grateful to those who took the time to remember my remark and moved to find a way to please me by a random act of kindness.

 

There is another Giver who has remembered individuals and has moved to give them the most precious gift of all, eternal life. In the gospel of John, Jesus offered this gift to an outcast of society, a lady of questionable reputation. The story is recorded in John 4. At a critical moment in the conversation Jesus said to a woman of Samaria, “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water” (John 4:10).

 

The same is true today. Christ comes to individuals and offers them the gift of God which is eternal life (Romans 6:23). It is there for the asking. It is there for the receiving by faith alone in Christ alone. Those of us who have reached out in faith and received the gift of God can only say by way of response, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

 

In as far as we are the recipients of random acts of kindness, let us find ways to express kindness to others, even to strangers or those we barely know. Let us also not neglect to tell others of the gift of God so that many souls will be pressed into the kingdom of God. The presentation of the gospel is the greatest act of kindness we can give to others.

Time is regarded as a precious commodity in Scripture. Christians are commanded to “redeem the time”. One way time can be redeemed is by remembering specific hours and make them spiritual memories. Consider some of the specific hours the saints remembered and recorded.

 

·         The disciples remembered a specific hour of praise prayer in the life of Christ. Luke 10:21, In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

 

·         The twelve apostles remembered the specific hour for the Last Supper. Luke 22:14, And when the hour was come, he sat down, and the twelve apostles with him.

 

·         The disciples remembered the specific hour of betrayal. Matthew 26:45, Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

 

·         The disciples remembered the specific hour of Christ’s arrest. Matthew 26:55, In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.

 

·         The disciples remembered a specific hour of hatred and fixed determination of religious leaders hostile to Christ. Luke 20:19, And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.

 

·         Peter would remember his own specific hour of denial of Christ. Luke 22:59, And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. 60 And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew.

 

·         The disciples on the road to Emmaus remembered their specific hour of being able to testify to the resurrected Christ. Luke 24:33, And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

 

·         Paul remembered a specific hour of demonic deliverance. Acts 16:18, And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

 

·         Paul and Silias remembered a specific hour and a special act of mercy. Acts 16:33, And he [the Philippian jailer] took them [Paul and Silas] the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.

 

·         The apostle Paul remembered the specific hour that sight was restored to him.  Acts 22:12, And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there, 13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.

 

What will you remember and record?