Bear One Another's Burdens

Scripture: Romans 15 v 1 - 3: "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
 2  Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
 3  For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me."

Galatians 6 v 7-8: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

There is nobody perfect except Jesus. We are a work in progress until He catches us up to Heaven, and then we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye to be like Him.  That's the speed of a flash of lightning!  There will be no warning, no time to make those changes we have procrastinated over.  No time to help anyone else we have been promising to do.

So if we come across a fallen Christian restore him gently as you would like to have that same kindness done to you if you should fall.  In these uncertain times when we don't know the day nor the hour of Jesus' return, we do know the season and we are already in it.

We must bear each other's burdens. When someone is struggling with sin, sickness, financial woes, spiritual attacks, as we pray, we must expect to feel the weight of their load resting on us. It's futile to complain or reject it. As Jesus bore our sins we must do our part to help our brethren. We should be available to the Lord if He needs us.

Everyone bears his own responsibility and we will give an account to the Lord one day.  As Jesus went out amongst hurting, vulnerable people and healed them, so must we be prepared to touch others. Do not fear the reproach or ridicule of unbelievers, be aware that everyone we encounter is a part of His Body.  They may not know it yet, or are those who used to know Him but have been hurt by others who don't care or just pretend to be Christians.  Real Christians go the extra mile and put aside their own desires to uplift others.

God does not allow Himself to be mocked by anyone so be very careful because what we sow we shall surely reap. If we cause hurt or pain to the family of God we are in danger of being hurt ourselves.  So keep short accounts and be quick to repent of wrongdoing.  If we have sown bad seeds like gossipping; undermining; belittling; arguing; being resentful then pray for crop failure before those seeds germinate and come back to taunt us.

If we feel we have been wronged in some way, consider the times we have wronged Jesus and been forgiven.  Do not allow a real or imagined hurt to grow into a situation that becomes more and more difficult to resolve.  Bitterness is our own worst enemy because God says that if we say we love Him whom we have not seen yet hate our brother or sister whom we have seen, we are liars and do not walk in truth.  So before we can pray for ourselves or others, remove the barriers of hate, bitterness, resentment and revenge from within us, or answers to prayer will never come.

In the world there is very little love, gentleness or kindness so spread the love of Jesus around and surprise people into the Kingdom of God. We can see how the world is disintegrating around us.  Let us be more forgiving and compassionate even to those who do not deserve it.  Just as Jesus has always been toward us.  We must be sensitive to Him and heed His promptings to avoid certain people that violently oppose Him and His Kingdom.  He will find other ways of reaching them.

Fear has come on many this past year or more with random deadly  terrorist attacks happening and being planned.  The Antichrist is rising. The full manifestation of  his evil nature must be seen and felt before he is cast into the Lake of Fire.  Jesus says "Fear not' to those who follow Him diligently.   He can only protect those whose names are in the Lamb's Book of Life.  That is your passport to everlasting life.

The moment you are born again by faith in Jesus Christ with your sins washed away in His Blood  and baptised by full immersion in water (Christening as a baby does not count) then your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. In Revelations 3 v 5 Jesus says that if we don't overcome the sins of our flesh and soul then our names will be removed from the Book of Life.

So even in our salvation t's and c's apply.  For the power of the gospel to apply to us - If we believe; if we follow Him; if we love one another; if we bear other's burdens; if we obey His Word - then our prayers are answered and our salvation is sure.

So bear one another's burdens; live a holy life by worshipping God and loving others. Stand for what is true and just and shun evil people and their ways. This is the way to ensure where you will spend eternity. Remember what Paul said - If the righteous scarcely be saved, what of these others?

Prayer: Father God make me an instrument of peace and love to sow the world with seeds of mercy, righteousness and faith to bless them. I am available to You Lord whenever I am needed. If there is someone in need let me help bear that burden to Your glory. Father, remove from me a stubborn and bitter heart and fill me with forgiveness and kindness.  In Jesus' name. Amen.