GoodNewsLetter
Number 438 October 24, 2012
BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS
"Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ," Galatians 6:2.
Bearing means to "carry" or "to lift up." Of course, "burden" means "a weight" or "load." So, to carry a burden of someone else is to carry their load. It's usuallybecause others are not able to carry it themselves; a situation or problem. But, when you know what Christ has done for all us, the teaching of bearing another'sburden is really not that difficult, at all.I am sure that you think as I do. We are moved by His work and His dying for our sins. We are so thankful. So thankful that love kicks into our hearts the momentScripture shows us how much Christ loved us. "Christ...having been offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time for salvation..." Hebrews 9:28.The Apostle Peter wants us to know our calling has responsibility; which, is living unto righteousness: "...He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that wemight live to righteousness: for by His wounds we were healed," 1st Peter 2:24 (N A S B).Further, the Apostle Paul explains that "...we are to remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you," Romans 11:18. In our Bible classon Wednesday nights, we just finished Romans 11. This powerful book informs us that God has not rejected His people. Paul, himself said that he was "an Israelite,a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin" (Ro. 11:1).Thus, our conclusion was that God's promise to Abraham was sure and ongoing to men of faith - from Abraham and the Jewish Nation of Israel – to those who claim thesame promise, today.Clearly, the Bible removes us from ourselves and tells (commands) us to be friends to those who are having it a bit tough. Like the title says, we are to "Bear OneAnother's Burdens." But, that's what love does, doesn't it? We bear burdens of our children and family members all the time; so, why not those of like-faith-and-order?In fact, when we go to the LOVE chapter of 1st Corinthians 13, we learn the meaning doing His commands in love – in the Spiritual sense. "Love is patient...kind...notjealous...doesn't brag...not arrogant or unbecoming...seeks not its own...not provoked...not taking an account, wrongly...love rejoices not in unrighteousness; but, the opposite, righteousness. LOVE rejoices in the truth. LOVE bears all things...hopes and endures all things...LOVE never fails. It's the LOVE of God that makes the LAW OF CHRIST workable. It's God's love that allows us to BEAR ONE ANOTHER'S BURDENS.