Standing in the gap for others

Within twenty minutes of returning to the house after picking up my sons, Finn and Douglas from school, the living room looked like a complete mess!

There were toys, lunchboxes, water bottles, books and cookie wrappers everywhere. One side of the rug even had water from a cup seeping through it.

How did this happen? Tantrums from Douglas …. in twenty minutes! I couldn’t deal with tantrums that I could not find the cause nor the cure for, so, I gave up.

“Douglas, please go to your room and lie on your bed for five minutes”, I gently told my five-year-old son. I needed some space to clear the mess before I thought of what to do next.

“Please forgive him, Mum, he will not do it again”, I heard Finn, my eight-year-old son, pleading.

My heart softened and I seemed to gain some strength in that instant. I quickly looked at Douglas who looked so innocent.

“Come here boys”, I called out to them. “I forgive you Douglas. Let’s try and enjoy the rest of today. OK?”, they nodded their heads as we huddled together in warm hugs.

When other people around us suffer for their wrong choices, what’s our usual response? Do we just talk about their suffering or gossip about the bad choices they made? Do we secretly think that they deserve the consequences of their actions? Do we reach out to them or distance ourselves?

While it is natural for someone to reap the consequences of their bad choices, it is not our place as believers to add to their condemnation and suffering.  The bible warns us, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the LORD see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him” (Proverbs 24:17-18).

Believers have a duty of care to other believers who stumble or fall. Rather than condemn a suffering brother or sister, believers are encouraged to lovingly and gently lead them back to God. “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1-2).

When we choose to respond negatively to the plight of a suffering person, we do not reflect the grace that we have been freely given through Christ. We are falsely projecting ourselves as immune to mistakes and errors. God frowns at evil speaking. “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren(James 4:11a).

Let us be that brother or sister that stands in the gap for others who are at fault, asking and pleading for God to show them mercy. Just like Moses pleaded for the people of Israel, “Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people (Exodus 32:12).

We can bring people before God in prayers.