Scripture
Our focus verse for today comes from Galatians 6:1-2, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Background & Application
God’s Word has an amazing way of combining the everyday with the supernatural, the simple with the extraordinary. We don’t need to leave the house in the morning to know firsthand about wrongdoings, temptations and burdens. Yet it takes the presence of God to restore another in a spirit of gentleness and bear someone else’s burdens. Maybe you’re like me and can’t remember the last time you bore someone else’s burden. And why is that? Why is it that we aren’t confiding in each other of our weaknesses? Why do I know dozens of people at church and yet I don’t have one prayer request from anyone that doesn’t pertain to physical issues in some way. Is it because we’re not close enough of friends? Or is it because I’m unapproachable, or appear too busy? Maybe I seem judgmental or self-righteous. Certainly, people have their own reasons for not sharing, but am I adding to the problem by not being the receptive, Jesus-like listener that I should be? That’s part of what we have to be careful of lest we, too, be tempted. We must not allow someone’s struggles to affect whether they can approach us or not. Are we comfortable worshipping the same Savior as long as we don’t share with each other what He’s saving us from? I struggle with the pride of being spiritual, with impatience with my angelic wife, with a judgmental, harsh spirit towards my kids that I expect to be perfect, with wanting to take it easy at work sometimes. if I was sick, I would certainly want everyone praying for my healing. But how much more I need the daily prayers for God’s grace to change my heart. No doctor on earth can do that.
Charge
As we pray today, ask God for a burden to bear. Then, cast it on Him, remembering that He is gentle and lowly in heart, and gives rest to our souls. Ask Him for eyes and ears to see and hear beyond the physical.
