LENTEN DEVOTIONAL - Day 35

Bearing Burdens

“Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.”- Galatians 6:2 Common English Bible

                                    We all have burdens that we carry. How much easier would our burdens be to carry if we had assistance? God provides assistance in the form of brothers and sisters in Christ. I also believe that He might send an angel to assist you, depending on the situation. What do you think Jesus would do if He were confronted with an individual whose burden was too difficult for him/her to bear alone? Based on the Gospels, I’d say it was a no brainer that He would reach out and lend a hand to lighten that person’s load. We are called to do likewise. We are given the tools needed to accomplish this as well. God never leaves us out on a limb by ourselves. He is always there to provide help when it is required. 

                  Some people we encounter are nice folks, some are gruff and unappreciative, but either way, we are not to judge by appearances or attitude, for God didn’t judge us that way. He overlooked our faults, failings and character flaws and chose to love us regardless of any of that. Is it not interesting that we have such a hard time doing the same for others.

                  We are a work in progress. When we stop reading scripture and seeking the face of God on a daily basis it is like a construction crew walking off a building site. The construction of the edifice stops. For us to grow spiritually, we must continue to feed our spirit man sustenance through the written and spoken word. Make wise choices regarding what we listen to and read. Make sure it glorifies God. If not, we are feeding garbage into our brain. If we are truly to be more like Jesus, we must feast on the word of God. How else can our faith and trust in God increase?

                  Understand that carrying each other’s burdens is not getting to heaven by works. It is rather living our lives as Christ would have … being His hand extended because it is the right thing to do, not so that we can earn a place in heaven. Nothing but the blood of Christ can purchase that for us.  In the end, we are to do what we do for the glory of God, because our relationship with Him and our understanding of what He has done for us compels us to do nothing less. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing! rlkeller