Sometimes, the best thing you can do is shut your mouth, listen closely and watch God work

The topic of the night was sin: things we do that are contrary to God's revealed will (sins of commission - You shall not murder. Exodus 20:13); good things we know we should do, but do not (sins of omission - Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. James 4:17); refusing to yield to God's leading because of rebellion (sins of submission - The LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Exodus 32:9).

We cruised through an overview of the events in the garden of Eden that brought sin into the world. As a segue to the next section of the study, we talked about how we fail to realize that sin sometimes has consequences that reach beyond the immediate situation. You see, while Jesus died to save us from the eternal penalty for our sin, we still have to deal in most cases with the earthly consequences of our sin. God says if "we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) - note that He doesn't promise to make all the yucky after-effects disappear.

This was about the point in the discussion where I realized I was no longer in control of the study. Oh, we went on with the lesson, but we kept coming back to the idea that our sins have an impact not only on our relationship with God, but with other people. No sin is truly committed in isolation.

One woman shared of a family situation that has caused much heartache over the years, related to ungodly choices made by one person that had an impact on many. We held her hands, offered her kleenex, listened and prayed for her. Immediately afterwards another woman broke down and shared a situation in her family that is very similar. More hand holding, kleenex, listening and praying.

Then, with great compassion and kindness, the first woman began to encourage the second, sharing wisdom hard-won from a situation that had gone on for twenty years, passing on advice she had received that had been helpful and effective, reminding her that sometimes, loving someone means being tough on them. Above all, she let her know that she was not alone, that someone else knew exactly how she felt, and was available to lend a listening ear whenever she needed one.

Paul was talking to the Galatian church about inter church relations when he was moved to write the following:

Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

The word translated "bear" means to take up in order to carry or bear, to put upon one's self (something) to be carried, to bear what is burdensome, to sustain, i.e. uphold, support. In short, it is not trying to solve someones problem, but instead, coming alongside just to bear part of the burden, in this case, the emotional turmoil left behind by someone else's sin.

It may not have been the main point of the lesson as I had planned it, but it was exactly what God needed us to learn. He provided a living example of His truth in action - you can't get much better than that.