“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness… (Gal 6:1a)”So what does it mean to be spiritual? In Paul’s list of the evidence of spirituality, Paul lists love first (Gal 5:22). Is it any wonder? John declared, “God is love (1 John 4:8).” That is why Paul said that without love, everything we do is meaningless (1 Cor 13:1-3).
So what is love? Much of the world has fallen for Hollywood's definition of love. But that is not “Christian” love. It is not that feeling you get when you hold the hand of your sweetheart, as nice as that is. It is something that goes way beyond that. It is relentless and loyal. Paul defines agape in 1 Corinthians 13.
“ Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails (1 Cor 13:4-8a);”
Is it any wonder that Paul says that those who are spiritual are to restore those who are in sin? An impatient, unkind, jealous, bragging, arrogant, unbecoming, selfish, easily provoked, grudge bearing person who seems to get some sort of perverse pleasure from someone messing up would not be the one to go and restore one who has been overtaken by sin.
A great example of this principle in action comes from Matthew 9:10ff. There, Jesus was seen rubbing shoulders with some pretty undesirable people. The religious leaders did not think this was appropriate for one who was supposed to be a rabbi. Jesus replied, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners (Matt 9:12-13)."
Look at Paul’s definition of love, and contemplate how Jesus demonstrated the spiritual quality of love here. Then pray that God help you to increase the same qualities in you.