Burden bearer

Galatians 6:1-5 The Message

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.

4-5 Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.

Take a careful look at the media, which reflects the spirit of the age. It majors on highlighting people's faults and failings.

Humans are, by fallen nature, inclined to negative criticism - even or especially of our closest ones.

Satan, the great accuser of the brethren, would encourage you to tear at one another's lives and amplify his accusing voice of condemnation.

This passage makes it abundantly clear we are to be burden bearers and burden sharers.

The highest hallmark of true spirituality is to come alongside those who have struggled and fallen and restore them - realising our own propensity to fall too.

That's hard - not to condone an action, but lovingly bring someone back into the way.

Jesus spoke of not looking at the speck in someone's eye while having a plank in our own!

Matthew 7:3-5 NKJV

And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? [4] Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? [5] Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

We each have our own bundle of faults and failings that we have to deal with on a daily basis and "take to the Cross" - it's vital that we don't forget our struggles as we help others along the way.

Come alongside people who have given up on themselves and encourage them back to the only place of redemption - the Cross of Jesus.

Father, may I not be a fault finder but a burden bearer. May I realise my need of grace moment by moment on my journey with You, through Jesus' redemptive power.