One of the things I have been encouraged by is seeing time and time again how Paul roots all of his theology back to the gospel. Chapter 6 is a practical picture of someone who is living by the Spirit and not the flesh, which was rooted in the gospel (vs) 5:24 says “and those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” The way that Paul depicts someone who is living according to the Spirit and not the flesh is by portraying a Christian who bears the burdens of other Christians, because that is what makes them act and look like Christ. If someone were to ask you, “Have you been bearing the burdens of your brothers and sisters in Christ?” What would be your response? Let’s see if that changes after laying out what Paul has to say.

1.) Have you been gently calling people out of sin? This is an important aspect of the Christian life because we are called to be accountable to one another. What I don’t want you to think is that we should be the sin police shining a light on every single sin that we see people committing because love covers a multitude of sins. Every one of us is growing and being sanctified by the grace of God, but there are moments, when there is sin that is prevalent and consistent in the lives of brothers and sisters that are dangerous that can lead them astray if they continue to be unrepentant. We are to gently call people away from sin that we see is leading them astray and if you do not feel mature enough, it is important to reel in another more mature believer to be involved to help in that process.

2.) Have you been bearing others' burdens? Have you been locking arms with people in the church that have been suffering, going through difficulties, or have needs to be met? According to Paul, someone who lives by the Spirit is someone who locks arms with other Christians and loving and gently walks with them through difficult seasons where they are in need. Bearing other burdens looks like investing yourself into the life of the church and actually having awareness of the people going through those seasons. If we only come to church Sunday’s and leave right away and have no other contact with people, then there is no way we can bear each other's burdens. To do so means that we are intentionally seeking people out besides greeting each other on Sunday mornings.

3.) Have you been thinking more highly of yourself than you should? In (vs 3) Paul tells us that we deceive ourselves when we think we are something, when we are nothing except for people who are in deep need of Christ. When we think more of ourselves than we should, we are walking by the flesh because the gospel calls us to be people who lay down our own lives for the sake of others. We cannot do that when we have a puffed-up image of ourselves because that means we take our interest before taking the interest of others. Instead, we are to humble ourselves, and regard the interest of others far above our own.

4.) Have you been tired of doing good to others? As I ask this, please do not hear a voice of self-righteousness, but one that is in need of grace more than anyone. There have been times where I want to throw in the towel and stop investing in people for many different reasons in different seasons. And every time, God has been so gracious to me by reminding me of what he has done for me first. He gave his one and only Son, who never in any moment stopped doing good to others. In the midst of abandonment, betrayal, and pain, Christ never stopped doing good to anyone, but his love ran so pure and deep that he kept doing good to others no matter how they treated him, no matter how much he suffered, he humbled himself and continued to regard others as more important than himself, all the way to the point of the cross. When I am reminded of the gospel and see what has been done for me even though I didn’t deserve it, that gospel fuel’s my heart to keep pressing forward. I hope the gospel fuel’s your heart as well, to bear the burdens of other brothers and sisters in the church.