I occasionally get the privilege of helping out with a little ranch work.
That sometimes includes avoiding mad cows and impatient 500 pound calves
who want back to their mothers. Then there's the smell of a hot branding
iron on future leather. But it isn't all fun and games. Sometimes you step
in slippery cow pies!
For you city folks, "cow pie" is a polite way of referring
to the residue left behind by bovines who aren't house broken.
On my last outing I zigged when I should have zagged and found
my footing to be in one of those cow pies. To make matters worse, while
I was temporarily the joke of the corral, the onlookers expressed that it
would have been a lot better if I'd landed IN some of the residue! (For
the sake of tales to tell.)
It isn't funny when someone has spiritually fallen. Paul says
that to fulfill the Law of Christ, we have to bear the fallen one up. (Galatians
6:1) "... If a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual,
restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness..."
Cow pies are funny, sin is not! Sin maims and destroys lives.
And don't forget, just like in the corral, you could be the next one to
fall!
Look to restore those who have fallen. Except for God's
grace, it could have been you!"
|
