Friday Focus #39

Bear One Another's Burdens

Galatians 6:1-5 shows us that being Christ like is not just reading the word and being nice to people. But are you willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of someone else? Are you willing to buy a homeless person a sandwich? Give them a drink? Visit a prisoner who has been persecuted for the sake of the Gospel? Whatever the burden, can you help someone carry theirs? In Galatians 6:1 we read that if a fellow Christ follower is caught up in a transgression/sin, that they should be rebuked gently by someone who is not tempted to fall into the same sin. Help bear the burden. In Galatians 6:2 we see that bearing one another's burdens helps fulfill the law of Christ. He did things to honor God selflessly and out of love. Follow that example.If you are too important to help other then you fool yourself as Galatians 6:3 points out. Also, in Galatians 6:4, we must test our own work so that is God honoring so that when God gives us our reward for what we have done and not what someone else did. Each person will have to bear their own load and do what they are able to do and take credit for their own work, not someone else's as Galatians 6:5 tells us. Overall, spare time to help others and be gentle with them when they need help.

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Wednesday Wake Up #33

No God or Know God

As I was reading through 2 Thessalonians the other night I came across a verse that was not your feel good fluffy and pretty scripture, but one that nails down what happens to those that do not know God and those who believe in no God. The verse was 2 Thessalonians 1:8 and in regard to Jesus and his angels coming back to earth it says "in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." Not so pretty is it? 

Why do we want to know God? Well, first we can know of something or someone. For instance I know of Michael Jordan, but do not know him personally (see where I am going). I can know that someone exists or intimately get to know someone on a deeper level, like a close friend or relative. We are to do the latter when it comes to God. We don't just know of him and kinda read and study. We need to stay focused on what He wants from us in all circumstances. Staying in 2 Thessalonians, in Chapter 3 verse 16 we see that God is referred to as the "Lord of Peace" and His peace can be with you all day when He is with you. You don't get that kind of peace by just kind of knowing someone.

In Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus tells those who are weary and burdened to come to him. That is key when Jesus says "come to" him. He does not say stay there and I will find you. If you want to be comforted, seek Jesus. Isn't a moniker of Jesus "the Prince of Peace"? That is so. Jesus's load is peaceful. He will not make you busy. People pleasing and living according to the world's standards will stress you the heck out. Jesus's yoke is light. Seek his peace.

 

There are a bunch of verses and retellings in scripture about knowing God. We can either pretend like God doesn't exist or we can seek His presence and read and know Him. Get into a deeper relationship with Him.

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Galatians 6: Bearing Burdens and Reaping and Sowing

Bearing Burdens and Reaping and Sowing

Paul tells the church to bear one another's burdens. That means help each other through the tough times. We can't "expect" others to help us as that leads to disappointment and is very self focused. But simply, find a burden that another carries and help them with it (Galatians 6:2). This is is part of the new commandment that Jesus gave us which was to love one another. It can be tiresome when we are loving people as we can expect the same love back when we need it. But Paul tells us not to grow weary of doing good as we will reap in due season (Galatians 6:9). That means when the time is right, just like with a crop, the fruit will be produced.

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