Swallowed By A Fault

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. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1-2)

Thought For Today:

I’ve known about the San Andreas fault line in California for some time. My father used to tell me that a volcanic eruption could take place at any given moment, and if that happened it would be catastrophic.

Of course, California has earthquakes all the time, but given the right circumstances, the earth could literally separate and swallow thousands of people and miles of property. But recently I heard about another fault line and it’s found along the Mississippi River valley. It’s called the New Madrid fault line.

There is a belief that a powerful earthquake in this region could cause the Mississippi River to dry up, leaving behind a vast empty space that would make the Grand Canyon seem like a small ditch.

When the apostle Paul talked about being swallowed up or overtaken by a fault, I can't help but imagine the ground giving way and the threat of death looming. That’s a scary thought.

Have you ever encountered someone who constantly shares negative things with you? It's puzzling how they manage to handle all the burdens. Eventually, you might even start avoiding them since you don't want to be bombarded with negativity.

There are some pastors who refrain from counseling people before church service as they feel that it can be overwhelming to handle their problems before the service. They are of the opinion that if they were to preach about the same topic during the service, it could be misconstrued as being directed at the individual they counseled earlier. Hence, they prefer to let the Word of God address the congregants' issues during the sermon."

But what if the person is overtaken by a fault? What if the person is carrying more than they can carry? What would Jesus do? Would Jesus preach and allow the Word to deal with their issue or would He sit and listen? To ensure a smooth service, it's recommended to inquire if the matter can be discussed at a later time before scheduling a meeting. However, if urgency is expressed, it's crucial to provide undivided attention and listen attentively. Paul said, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." The golden rule is always in operation in the church. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.