The Spirit of the Restorer

“…ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness.” Gal. 6:1

Our hearts bleed for fallen souls who need to be restored. They have little to offer but gratitude. Their history suggests that they will fail again making them a liability rather than an asset. The person overtaken in a fault mires down in a trail of past disappointments; spiritual bankruptcy dogs his present; and question marks swirl around his future.

The revealing point about restoration, however, is not about the people who need it. We all understand what they need. Instead, we must examine the spirit of the restorer. Long ago, a wise person observed that we measure the worth of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. The restorer’s bold action to help a fallen comrade provides a powerful commentary on his own spirit. His willingness to restore confirms his spiritual mind.

For some reason, condemnation always seems easier to mete out than restoration. Whenever we see things in sharp, clearly defined lines, we can snap off judgment against the weak and fallen. Their transgressions stand in strong evidence against them. Because they are law-breakers and sinners, we think they deserve immediate denunciation and swift punishment. The Pharisees who took the adulterous woman to Jesus did not demand her restoration, but her indictment. Even Christ’s disciples manifested this kind of attitude in speaking out against Mary, the harlot who broke the alabaster box and anointed Jesus with the precious perfume. “And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.” Mark 14:4-5

I applaud the noble spirit, however, who denies the temptation to condemn the fallen. He does not succumb to the jealousy of Joseph’s brothers, the treachery of King Saul, the personal ambition of Balaam or the opportunism of Judas Iscariot. He considers the fact that, but for the grace of God, he may himself fall. He knows that to allow arrogance, judgmentalism or a holier-than-thou spirit to dictate his response to the weaknesses of others displays a carnal, not a spiritual response. Examine these characteristics:

The restorer has a compassionate spirit. Compassion means, “to suffer with” others. It goes beyond feeling their pain or even understanding their plight. The compassionate spirit reaches out to help the fallen and actually take steps to rectify their situation whenever possible. The restorer has no use for mere sympathy or “tokenism.” His compassion demands results.

The restorer has a humble spirit. Indeed, the scripture says to restore the one overtaken in a fault “in the spirit of meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted”. Anyone who is fully aware of his own weaknesses has a much greater aptitude for restoration of others. All of us are still in the race, facing daily exposure to the elements. The restorer understands that on any given tomorrow, he himself may need a helping hand.

The restorer has a strong spirit . Restorers run risks. Others may associate them with the very weaknesses of those receiving help. They may be accused of unhealthy sympathies. Their motives may be misconstrued as trying to corrupt the whole body. The rock-ribbed restorer, however, rises above these dangers on the strength of his steadfast spirit to lift the overtaken. He measures strength by the weight of the load lifted, not the ability to put the load down.

The restorer has a giving spirit . The story once was told of the turtle on a fencepost. The conclusion: He didn’t get there by himself. Neither can a comrade overtaken in a fault find restoration without someone willing to reach deep into his treasure house of generosity and give of himself. The restorer does not think of his efforts as throwing himself away but investing in a valuable commodity.

The restorer has a visionary spirit. Restoration encapsulates the redemptive plan of God. Had God not envisioned what lost humanity could be, he would have permitted us to follow our downward course. The centrifugal force of sin furiously propelled us away from the holiness of God. Divine intervention intercepted us on our hell-bent path and turned us around. The restorer envisions the unrealized potential of the overtaken soul and, in so doing, he aligns himself with the plot of redemption’s drama.

Have you reached out to a troubled soul lately? Isn’t it time you did?

Comments

[paul]

Greetings Pastor, Myname is Paul I first came acrosss a book you write on doctrine while itinerating throught the states some years ago. I found your blog and what a joy it is to read your articles which are full of knowledge and sincerity.

Thanks too for this article on restoration ill have to read to digest it, there again thats what makes a good blog.

Paul