God's Holy Fire: 'Restore that Person Gently'

Saturday, July 4, 2026

Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.
— Galatians 6:1 NIV

Key Thought

Spiritual people are those who live under the influence of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:25). They then "Spirit-naturally" produce the Spirit's fruit in their lives (Galatians 5:22-23). When "someone is caught in a sin," then these spiritual people should help restore that person back to Jesus and life in Jesus. But they are to do this restoring gently - living out the love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that come from the Holy Spirit. The goal of restoration is not to win a point or prove superiority; it is to lead a wandering soul back to Jesus. At the same time, we must understand our own vulnerability to succumb to temptation and to being led away from our walk with Jesus. Such understanding helps us to be firm and passionate about restoration, but also tender and loving with those who have lost their way.

Today's Prayer

O Father, as I think of people who are in spiritual trouble, I pray especially for ... Please use me in restoring them to Jesus and to his family of believers. As I work toward this goal, I pray for the Holy Spirit to be at work in me and for the Spirit's fruit to be always displayed in me. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

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7 Related Resources by Heartlight

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How can you explain this away so nonchalantly? A mother's lame explanation for child abuse makes us realize how easy and horrible it is to explain away our own responsibility.
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Illustration

Illustration of Galatians 6:1 NIV — Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.

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About This Devotional

God's Holy Fire is a daily devotional about the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

The Thoughts and Prayer for God's Holy Fire are written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked MESSAGE are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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