Galatians 6 (AMP) Brethren, if any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.
2 Bear (endure, carry) one another’s burdens and [a]troublesome moral faults, and in this way fulfill and observe perfectly the law of Christ (the Messiah) and complete [b]what is lacking [in your obedience to it].
3 For if any person thinks himself to be somebody [too important to condescend to shoulder another’s load] when he is nobody [of superiority except in his own estimation], he deceives and deludes and cheats himself.
4 But let every person carefully scrutinize and examine and test his own conduct and his own work. He can then have the personal satisfaction and joy of doing something commendable [[c]in itself alone] without [resorting to] boastful comparison with his neighbor.
5 For every person will have to bear ([d]be equal to understanding and calmly receive) his own [[e]little] load [f][of oppressive faults].
Pride is a huge problem and Paul the apostle (recognizing that fact) warned the Christian over and over again. So often within our hearts there is the tendency to compare ourselves with others. We tend to look upon someone else’s failures with a self pride and in that frame of mind we say that "I would never do that" Beware, Caution; you are most likely about to fall into that same sin. The only way that we can help another person who is struggling with a particular sin is to forever remember our own vulnerability to sin. We need to lovingly, gently point them toward the joy that they can find in Christ. Experience tells me that there is no joy when sin is reigning in my life; and, that is true of any Christian. Pride would stand in the way of helping the other because we find ourselves secretly enjoying their failure because it makes us look better. As Christians we must reach out to guide others when they are slipping away. We should teach them gently, remembering our own frailty. That does not mean that we are not to meekly confront them in a heart of love that truly wants to help them. We are not to just look the other way either; because that is saying "I don’t care". Remember that any maturity or level of spirituality that you may have attained has come to you by grace alone and not of your own doing. Remember Peter? He had been privy to many miracles and even was there at the mount of transfiguration. He had walked with Christ and was the first to declare with great revelation that "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God" Yet, pride entered in and he even declared that Christ would not be killed–he, Peter would not allow it. He declared with all of his heart, "Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee." (Matthew 26: 35) Still it was Peter who denied Christ three times. God knew that if Peter were to become the preacher that he needed to be to lead the early church, pride would have to be destroyed. It was a broken, contrite hearted Peter who then stood on the shore with the resurrected Christ as Peter was given his commission to teach and spread the gospel of Christ. I must never forget the fact that without Christ, I am nothing. If by some chance of Grace I have ever done something good or have helped someone; I know that it Christ in me and not me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1R5c3d7KPQ
Below is an excerpt from the Chapter "Peter’s Restoration" from my book A Broken and Contrite Heart for those who want to read further.
"Peter had seen the resurrection of Christ and was thrilled with the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection; yet, as you note—He returned to fishing. “After all, Christ has said nothing about the denial; perhaps, I cannot be used in His service”, thought Peter. “I blew it!! What can I do? I witnessed a miracle beyond any miracle and I met the Savior, the Messiah. What an honor I have been blessed with.” So with that mentality, Peter went back to the fishing. That was the only occupation he knew and certainly he did not believe he would ever be good enough to return to Christ’s service. He had failed Christ at a crucial moment, all his bragging about love and devotion had been nothing more than a lot of worthless hot air.
Peter had fished all night and even then failed to catch any fish; perhaps, even in this he felt a failure. As the morning dawned there was Christ standing on the shore. In fact, the disciples did not recognize Him; perhaps, they weren’t looking for Him at that moment—they were not certain what role they now played in the Kingdom of God. In fact, for Peter, he had gone back to his former life, why would Christ appear now? Peter, I daresay, doesn’t recall the prayer and promise of Christ that when he was restored to strengthen the brethren. Instead, Peter took them fishing. In fact, Peter was fishing in the nude as he had formerly done. Then Peter realized that this was Jesus Christ as He had commanded them to throw the nets in and pull up an overflowing catch of fish; just like in the beginning. Peter grabbed his coat and jumped into the water. Oddly, that he would throw on a coat to swim when swimming is much simpler in the nude. Yet, Peter wanted to try to cover his own shame for his lack of faith in Christ’s ability to use him and for his denial a few days, weeks prior. When Peter and the disciples reached the shore Christ was already cooking fish so as to provide a meal to His disciples. He attended first to their physical need of hunger before stepping into the important work of restoration. That would be just like Jesus; he would attend to the physical needs so that there would be abundant energy to go about the task at hand. Sometimes in the Christian walk when we awaken in that same position as Peter in which we feel we have failed so severely that we could not be used ever again. At that moment, many times God sends forth just the right song or sermon or person to fill our hungry heart before He begins that work of restoration. Once his hunger had been met, Christ invited Peter for a private walk along the beach. We know this private because while they are talking, it is noted in verse 20 “Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following” They had to be walking a few steps ahead and speaking softly.
So they begin this walk, Peter hardly able to contain himself with the thoughts most likely running through his mind. It was the first time they were alone and Christ wanted to talk to him. Then came the piercing questions in a series of three; just like the denial had been a series of three so too the restoring questions are a series of three. Peter prior to the incident was so confident that he loved Christ better than the other disciples and that he would go to prison or death because of his love for Christ. Yet, Peter, came to realize that his own love was not perfect; instead he needed to rest on the assurance that Christ’s love was all sufficient. So it is that Christ asked Peter “Simon, son of Jonah, lovest thou me?” Note that Christ once more is calling Peter by his human name and not the spiritual name he had been given. Another point of great interest is the word “lovest”, In the latin languages, there are various distinctly different words that refer to love. One type of love is “agape” love. This is an unconditional, never failing, God like love. The other word for love that is used in these verses is phileo love (this refers to a general brother-like love) and would be considered a good type of love; but certainly, with limitations and flaws. It is more like an affection rather than a steady burning, unconditional love. Therefore, the conversation went something like this. Christ said, “Simon, do you love me with a burning, unconditional agape love?” Peter’s response is “yeah Lord, I love you with an affectionate, brother like Phileo love.” Christ commands Peter to feed his sheep. Remember once more this is the same Peter who had previously swore his love to be greater than anyone’s and now he hesitates in his own description of his love for Christ, doubting the depth and sincerity of it. . So, Christ again asks Peter, “Simon, do you love me with a burning, unconditional agape love?” Peter’s response again is “yeah Lord, I love you with an affectionate, brother like Phileo love” Christ commands Peter once more to feed his sheep, as demonstration of that love and devotion—He is calling Peter into service again. Then on the third question, Christ asks; “Simon, do you love with an affectionate, brother like love?” What a grievous question. Peter must have quickly thought as I have at times thought, “Lord is my ability to love you so flawed that I cannot even attempt to demonstrate it, does it not even show?” Yet, very humbly, Peter now replies: “Lord, you know all things, look into my heart Lord and You will not need to ask such a question.” Once more the Lord calls Peter into service with “Feed my sheep”
Peter had come to realize that he, himself was nothing and had nothing to boast of except for Jesus Christ. He came to realize that in the power of his own love, he would fail. His self-righteous spirit was broken completely. His heart had been broken for Christ and now restored was a humble heart that recognized that unless it is Christ’s love and work through him, there was no work at all. Now with all self pride stripped away, Peter was ready to become the preacher he needed to be. He found his own central core of hope in future grace set firm in Jesus Christ and Christ Alone-“the hope for Glory” As Peter writes in I Peter 1: “Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.” No longer could Peter’s hope and faith be in himself or even his ability to love Christ; rather, he depended and rested upon the love of God to sustain him and to work out this faith through him. That is why Peter was able to preach at Pentecost where 3000 were saved. It was no longer Peter’s boisterous voice; but Christ’s voice through Peter. God did not cause Peter to fail; but God did allow Satan to sift Peter and God took Peter’s failure and used it for Peter’s growth, the increased intimacy with Christ for Peter, and for the good of the kingdom. What an amazing God of Grace and Mercy and Love. God knew that the only source of joy, hope, strength and peace for Peter was an intimate relationship with God. Prior to Peter falling deeply with a broken spirit, broken heart and contrite heart; Peter’s pride stood in the way of this intimacy. Peter sometimes had trouble hearing the truth as he was caught up in his own desires. This was not the case with the restored Peter."