"Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. Carry one another’s burdens; in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." vs1-2

Carrying burdens caught my eye today. We are not to look upon erring saints with contempt. We're to help them carry the burden, knowing how hard it is ourselves. We're to preach grace, and be gracious.

Noah's sons had TWO DIFFERENT responses to his drunkenness [Genesis 9]. One looked with contempt, and he was cursed. The other two refused to look at their father's nakedness, because love covers a multitude of sins. They were blessed.

What kind of person do you want to be? Do we want to love others, and enjoy God's favor, or will we be proud? No one can look on his brother's sins properly - at least not in a helpful way - until he's seen his own low estate alleviated by the Lord [Matt 7:5]. It is consciousness of obtaining mercy that makes us merciful to sinners and erring saints.

If we don't help others up gently, then we don't reprove as we ought. Saints, we're not rubbing their noses in it. We're pointing to God's grace, Christ's blood, and the Spirit's help.