NOVEMBER 16, 2015
Shared
Struggles
Read:
Galatians
6:1-10
Share
each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. — nlt
Galatians
6:2
April 25, 2015, marked the 100th commemoration of Anzac Day. It
is celebrated each year by both Australia and New Zealand to honor the members
of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) who fought together during
World War I. It marks a time when neither country had to face the dangers of
war alone; soldiers from both countries engaged in the struggle together.
Sharing life’s struggles is fundamental to the way followers of
Christ are called to live. As Paul challenged us, “Share each other’s burdens,
and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2 nlt). By working together
through life’s challenges we can help to strengthen and support one another
when times are hard. By expressing toward one another the care and affections
of Christ, the difficulties of life should draw us to Christ and to each
other—not isolate us in our suffering.
By sharing in the struggles of another, we are modeling the love
of Christ. We read in Isaiah, “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our
sorrows” (Isa. 53:4 nkjv). No matter how great the struggle we face, we never
face it alone.
Thank
You, Father, that I don’t have to walk my life’s journey alone. You are near.
We can go a lot further together than
we can alone.
INSIGHT:
In Galatians 6:2 Paul instructs the Galatian
believers to carry each other’s burdens. However, in verse 5 Paul says that
each person should carry his own load. In the case of carrying each other’s
burdens, we are to do so in the context of someone caught in sin (v. 1).
However, in the case of carrying our own load, it is so that we do not compare
ourselves to others and become unduly disheartened by our progress (or lack of
it). J.R. Hudberg
Source: Our Daily Bread 2015