Text: Galatians 6:2-5
Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads.
Yesterday, Paul noted that we need to restore those who are "detected in a transgression" with what he calls a "spirit of gentleness." That was a word more for those who are to restore than those who are to be restored. There is a life among the followers of Jesus that is constantly making community life a wholesome and graceful environment. It takes the work of each of us to make a community thrive with peace and love and mercy. Bearing one another's burdens is another way that we are pulled out of the self-indulgent lives that can come to us so easily. The law was set up so that there would be just such a life among us. The love of Christ moves us into a radical notion of being neighbors and friends. When you think about it, a commandment like "you shall not kill" includes, as Martin Luther would note, the fact that we are to look after the well being of our neighbor. Don't simply resist the temptation to kill, be moved to care and protect and safeguard our neighbor. No law can make us do that!...it takes this Spirit that Paul says will shape our living. Therefore, be concerned with our own life and how our lives are engaging the lives of our neighbors with acts of love, mercy, peace, & forgiveness. This life called "following Jesus in the Reign of God" is not a personal journey of self-improvement. It is a journey into the very depths of community and the relationships that come into being as we learn to love one another.
Connection: We can be loving. We can "bear one another burdens" and we can participate in the joys that come to life in the midst of a people whose lives are bounded together in love. One of the gifts we can offer to this day is that we are each a gift of the promise of our God to be present with the world. We can be a loving gift to this day.
Lord God of this day, be our encouragement and our food for life so that in our actions within this day, your merciful touch will be felt by those around us. Help us to see how beloved we are in your eyes and how that status is the character of our lives. Amen.
Bear one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves. All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor's work, will become a cause for pride. For all must carry their own loads.
Yesterday, Paul noted that we need to restore those who are "detected in a transgression" with what he calls a "spirit of gentleness." That was a word more for those who are to restore than those who are to be restored. There is a life among the followers of Jesus that is constantly making community life a wholesome and graceful environment. It takes the work of each of us to make a community thrive with peace and love and mercy. Bearing one another's burdens is another way that we are pulled out of the self-indulgent lives that can come to us so easily. The law was set up so that there would be just such a life among us. The love of Christ moves us into a radical notion of being neighbors and friends. When you think about it, a commandment like "you shall not kill" includes, as Martin Luther would note, the fact that we are to look after the well being of our neighbor. Don't simply resist the temptation to kill, be moved to care and protect and safeguard our neighbor. No law can make us do that!...it takes this Spirit that Paul says will shape our living. Therefore, be concerned with our own life and how our lives are engaging the lives of our neighbors with acts of love, mercy, peace, & forgiveness. This life called "following Jesus in the Reign of God" is not a personal journey of self-improvement. It is a journey into the very depths of community and the relationships that come into being as we learn to love one another.
Connection: We can be loving. We can "bear one another burdens" and we can participate in the joys that come to life in the midst of a people whose lives are bounded together in love. One of the gifts we can offer to this day is that we are each a gift of the promise of our God to be present with the world. We can be a loving gift to this day.
Lord God of this day, be our encouragement and our food for life so that in our actions within this day, your merciful touch will be felt by those around us. Help us to see how beloved we are in your eyes and how that status is the character of our lives. Amen.
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