“My friends, you are spiritual. So if someone is trapped in sin, you should gently lead that person back to the right path. But watch out, and don’t be tempted yourself.” Galatians 6:1 (CEV)
Devotion:
What is it that makes us want to snap at people? Is it because we think they should have known better and they’re being incompetent? That they don’t care about anyone other than themselves because they’re selfish? Or simply because they got in our way and now we’re held back?
Our own pride can make us think we are on the moral high ground and our offenders are on the low ground, and because they are beneath us, we have the right of way to respond as we see fit.
But when we know that we are in the wrong, which is preferable: a gentle answer or a harsh response?
Thought:
When has someone effectively corrected you, and you were the better for it? How did they do it? And then: In which specific situations can you ask the Holy Spirit to help you respond to others in gentleness, especially when you see them stuck in harmful behaviour?