By Lisa Wilmore
Dear Hearts,
God awakened me at 5:00 AM Tuesday morning with a burden on my heart. It is impossible to ignore the brokenness in our world, especially when Christian brothers and sisters fall short of God’s glory in overt ways. My heart is grieved as I write this message. I ask God’s forgiveness for any thoughts I have had that did not align with His mercy and grace. As He grants me mercy and grace, I am reminded that I must also extend the same to others.
If you are a Christian with the love of God living inside of you, then surely you feel the hurt and concern when a fellow believer is in trouble. Lately, I find myself asking God, “Lord, what can we do to help our brother or sister who has fallen? How do we help restore your joy in them?” His Spirit always reminds me to pray-consistently and with thanksgiving-for His gift of “another chance.”
My friends, I am not one who engages with social media. Some might call me old-fashioned, but avoiding those platforms protects my mind and spirit from unnecessary negativity. I have been told that certain speaking engagements and photos have been posted online, but I do not have an account to see them. I can only imagine what gets shared when someone’s life is in a crisis. But I do have first-hand experience with how Christians sometimes react to the failures of others.
Too often, those who are called by God’s name speak cruelly about a fellow believer who is struggling or has fallen. Sadly, some Christians can be hypocritical and condescending, even though Jesus calls us to be like-minded with Him-to Walk in grace, love, and truth.
We, as believers in Jesus Christ, must step forward and offer the kind of love Christ extends to us, especially when we mess up. Paul reminds us in Galatians 6: “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” (Galatians 6:1–3 NIV).
Yes, condemn the sin, but not the sinner. Jesus said, “He without sin among you, let him first cast a stone…” (John 8). He said this when a woman, caught in adultery, stood alone, ashamed and vulnerable. None of her accusers could throw a stone, because none of them were without sin. The same is true for us. Lord, help us to love as You love. Help us to be restorers, not stone-throwers. In doing so, we are honoring your spoken and written Word.
Humbly submitted with love and prayer.
Jesus Saves!
