The Bible calls us to do hard things. Forgive those who hurt you. Love your enemies. Deny yourself. But Galatians 6:1-2 contains a command that is doubly hard, “If anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Not only does Apostle call us to hold one another accountable, which is difficult itself, but he also calls us to do it lovingly. If we finally get enough nerve to call somebody to account, we usually come with a flamethrower. But we are called to restore gently.

That word “restore” is a medical term. It’s used for setting a broken bone. Both necessary and painful, but the goal is always healing, never harm.

That’s one of the reasons we must watch ourselves, as Paul commands. In moments like these, pride can turn us into prosecutors and punishers instead of restorers. We want to amputate and toss them out instead of healing and drawing them back in. The moment you approach someone’s sin with superiority instead of humility, you’ve already failed the assignment.

No, we are to bear one another’s burdens. That means we patiently help them up from their fall, get all bandaged up, healed up, and headed in the right direction. And in doing so, we fulfill the law of Christ, which is to love others like Christ loved us. That’s exactly what Christ did for us!

Beloved, accountability is hard, and restoration is harder, but it’s holy and most loving. Do for others what Christ has done for you!

Change begins in you!