"Some Principles That Will Change Your Life"

“Some More Principles that Will Change Your Life”

March 21, 2009

“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 any of you think you are something when you are nothing, you deceive yourselves. Each of you should test your own actions. Then you can take pride in yourself, without comparing yourself to somebody else, for each of you should carry your own load. Nevertheless, those who receive instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. People reap what they sow. Those who sow to please their sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; those who sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Galatians 6:1-10

Last week I shared “Four Principles that will Change Your Life”. I just picked out the four most obvious ones – the ones that impacted my life the most. But as I read and reread these ten verses in Galatians six, I began to see some more stuff. There are at least a half dozen more spiritual principles here. This morning I thought I would share some other spiritual nuggets I dug out of these passage.

By the way, that’s the way it happens, you know. When you first read the Scripture, you may get only a general revealing of truth or only see it in a historical perspective. But as you reread it and meditate on the Scriptures – it begins to unfold like a beautiful flower. The bible is the Beautiful flower of truth – and it reveals itself only to the most dedicated. It reveals itself only to those most sincere in their seeking.

The Scripture begins with the admonition to help each other by lovingly and gently correcting each other when we are overtaken or caught up in a fault – or sin. We covered that last week, but let me just add a thought. Have you ever tried to correct someone who didn’t WANT correcting? You can’t do it – can you? Do you remember a time someone was correcting you and you didn’t like it; you didn’t want it; you were NOT going to be corrected –thank you very much!

The little note to the First principle we covered last week, “Gently Correct those in Error” is “don’t correct someone who refuses correcting”. Jesus said,

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.” Matthew 7:6

“Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.” Prov. 23:9

Galatians 6:1 instructs us to correct our spiritual “brothers and sisters”. In other words, those we are ‘one’ with and those willing to be corrected. We are to correct only those seeking truth; those with a heart for what is right. You are just wasting your time with anyone who foolishly refuses to be corrected.

Here’s another thought. The second principle last week was “Carry each other’s burdens”. It was followed by this statement. “in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” I just want to point out that Paul and Peter and the writers of the New Testament were not legalistically following the Levitical law in the Old Testament. They were eating unkosher meat, not worshipping on Saturday but on Sunday, instead. They weren’t celebrating some of the Jewish holidays like they should. They weren’t washing their hands like the Levitical law said they should. Why? Were they rebellious? Not at all. They were under another law. It was the law of love. The Bible says,

“Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:10

Aren’t you glad that we are NOT under the old law – but the law of love? We can be in error; we can be in need of correcting, and still be perfect of heart – if that heart is a heart of love. If we love Jesus and are striving to please Him and walk in obedience – we are justified. Don’t think the ‘Law of Love’ is a license to sin. Love is much more demanding than Legalism. The law doesn’t say I have to open the door for someone or bring my wife a cup of tea in the evening. But the law of love demands it. If you truly love Jesus, you will want to do everything that pleases Him and shun everything that displeases Him. The “Law of Love” will change your life. It will make you sweeter, kinder, more gentle, nicer, and just more loving. It will be pretty pleasant to hang around you when you are following the ‘law of love’.