By Ronald E. George Jr. at
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The search for another began in the Garden of Eden. It was there that man realized that he needed and he wanted someone else. People realized the need for another other than another person when they worshipped God. The need and desire for another who could provide love, liberty, and life from the great enemies we all face. We knew we needed help and security. We turned to the one true living God.
6 Brothers,
if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.
But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry
each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If
anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each
one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without
comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own
load. 6
Anyone who receives instruction in the
word must share all good things with his instructor.
7
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.
A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his
sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to
please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing
good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us
do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of
believers. 11 See
what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!
12 Those
who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be
circumcised. The only reason they do this is to avoid being persecuted for the
cross of Christ. 13
Not even those who are circumcised obey
the law, yet they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your
flesh. 14 May
I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the
world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15
Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision
means anything; what counts is a new creation. 16
Peace and mercy to all who follow this
rule, even to the Israel of God.[1]
Who is that
“ANOTHER?”
May I have another? Another is something other than yourself. It is outside of your body and life. It is not another of you. If you ask to have another then you are showing that you aren’t everything. You are indicating a desire to have something outside of yourself to be brought into your life. Indicates you need or want another of something. What if that other that you want or need is a person? Then do you want or need that person in your life? Bringing another into your life complicates the equation.
As you bring others into your life or if you insert yourself into the life of another you receive something that you can not have on your own. You receive another as described in Galatians 6.
Who is:
(Can be compared to Christ and to the others in the fellowship/ family)
except for number one.
1.
Someone who is a sinner and someone who is a Savior.
Can we say that we are not?
2.
Someone to stand beside as opposed to standing alone.
3.
Someone to hold you up when your knees get weak and you falter.
4.
Someone to hold you accountable so that you will never go too far
in the wrong direction.
5.
Someone to pick you up gently when you fall as opposed to being
jerked up by the hair of the head.
6.
Someone to help you carry your burden.
But first you must lay them down so “another” can pick it up.
7.
Someone who chooses to try to obey the law of Christ and by doing
so they become another.
8.
Someone who is something, but thinks he is nothing.
9.
Someone who judges himself and bears his own guilt without blaming
someone else.
10.
Someone who takes pride in what God is doing whether it is big or
whether it is small.
11.
Someone who gives back to those who have given to them.
Because they want to.
12.
Someone who can wait until harvest because he is planning ahead
and hungry.
13.
Someone who became weary and tired, but he heard the voice that
said Don’t quit, harvest time is coming.
14.
Someone who helps all regardless of who they are.
They have done good to you.
15.
Someone who is willing to write you a letter.
16.
Someone who is helping you to see and know the Lord not just
another church member.
17.
Someoen who is willing to die for you.
18.
Someone who is more concerned about what God wants than what
others think.
19.
Someone who knows peace and mercy that comes from God in you.
20.
The another spoken of in Galatians 6 is Jesus Christ living
through you and the another.
From Him who died.
He died on the cross for your sin and arose.
He came to live here in our hearts through the gift of the comforter.
He puts love in our hearts for others and particularly for those who
can’t … yet!
He is someone for you so that you will be someone for another. He is
alive today and to him we must pray. So
that we may become the other He wants us to be.
Finally, peace and mercy… of
God that we can’t understand, but most appreciate.
We now have accountability - Restoration - Gentileness and concern - Watchfulness and temptation - Sharing the burden of another to fulfill the law of Christ - Humility
Self-examination and testing - Don’t compare to another, but bear your own burden and guilt. For you cannot bear the guilt of another. The deception is that you do whatever you want and not worry about reaping the harvest of your actions. Here is the law of God. You will reap what you sow (do you want another?)
Don’t give up. Don’t become weary in well doing. Let us do good to all people, especially other Christians. Don’t just keep up appearances, but neglecting the inner man of faith and the new birth. The outward signs of obeying the law What counts?