“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:1-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Helping the brother who has fallen into sinful behavior is a vital part of the church. We must always recognize the potential we all have to fall. None of us are immune to temptation. David, the king of Israel was caught in a moment of temptation in 2 Samuel 11. The book of Acts tells us that David was a man after God's own heart (Acts 13:22). Although David was a man of God, he succumb to the temptation of a beautiful woman named Bathsheba. David's life would not be the same. His sin brought consequences beyond his expectation. God even sent the prophet Nathan to confront David about his sin. He had committed adultery with another man's wife, conspired to cover it up by having the woman's husband called home from his military service, and when the man wouldn't go home to have relations with his wife, David ordered his death. David had his military commander place Uriah (Bathsheba's husband) at the front line of battle. The result was his death. Now, David had not only committed adultery, he had also committed conspiracy and murder. How could such a man of God fall? Chapters 11 and 12 of 2 Samuel record the saga. There, in those pages, we read the sad commentary of falling into temptation. David, although being a godly man, had a moment of weakness that changed his life. The beauty from the ashes is that God forgave his sin (see Psalm 51). However, David's life would be scarred by the effects of his sin. Sin takes us further than we want to go, makes us stay longer than we want to stay, and makes us pay more than we want to pay.

Perhaps you, or someone you know, has succumb to temptation and has fallen into sin. There is hope and help. Jesus will forgive. The church is called to help that person and their family in their recovery. We must not put down our wounded. We are called to reach out to them in meekness, recognizing our own vulnerabilities. It could be us.

“If you think you are standing strong, be careful not to fall. The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10:12-13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

On any given day, even the strongest among us can fall. We must guard against Satan's schemes and strategies. All it takes is one moment of weakness. Don't give in to it. It will cost you more than you even know. Consider this alternative:

James 1:12 “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” NLT‬‬

I leave you with an encouraging word. In Acts 13:36, the Word of God tells us that David served his generation by the will of God and then died. David may have fallen, but through God's forgiveness, he finished well. Don't stay down. Let God pick you up, restore you, and finish well.

Prayer for today: Father, in Jesus name, help me to recognize my vulnerability to sin and help me walk in the Holy Spirit so that I will not fall.