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Millard Kinnison on June 26, 2024

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Together in Christ: 'Lifting Burdens, Not Adding to Them!' — Galatians 6:2

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.

— Galatians 6:2 NLT

Key Thought

Earlier in this letter, Paul summed up the "whole law":

For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." [1]

As people in Galatia argued about the place of the Torah and the Jewish law in Christianity, Paul was emphatic that no one would be justified and made right with God by keeping the law, but that justification comes only by grace through faith. [2] But to help both Jew and Gentile find a practical way of getting along and living authentically as Jesus' disciples, Paul reminded them to love their neighbor as Jesus had commanded them. [3] If we must love our neighbors who are not believers, surely we should demonstrate our love for our brothers and sisters even more. We should share each other's burdens. We should lighten the load on each other. We should help each other.

Rather than loading people down with more to do, we should lighten their load and find grace together in following Jesus as Lord. [4] Rather than flaunting our freedom in grace, we should use grace to be patient and understanding with each other. [5] Despite our differences in culture, heritage, practice, ethnicity, language, and traditions, we are all people for whom Christ died. [6] Therefore, rather than quarreling, demeaning, or attacking each other, [7] we should bear each other's burdens, lift each other's loads, and share each other's struggles and show that we are Jesus' disciples [8] as we demonstrate our genuine love for each other by our actions! [9]

[1] Galatians 5:14. See also Romans 13:8-10; James 2:8.

[2] Galatians 2:15-16, 3:11, 24, 5:4.

[3] Galatians 5:14. See also Romans 13:8; James 2:8.

[4] Matthew 11:28-30, 23:1-4; Acts 15:10-11; 2 Corinthians 11:9.

[5] 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; Galatians 5:1, 13.

[6] Galatians 3:26-29; Romans 14:15; 1 Corinthians 8:11-13; Revelation 7:9-12.

[7] Galatians 5:13-15.

[8] 1 John 3:16-18; James 2:8-13; John 13:35.

[9] 1 John 3:16-18.

TODAY'S PRAYER

Open my heart, dear Lord, to see the burdens my brothers and sisters are carrying and to lovingly join them in carrying those burdens. Holy Spirit, please grow my heart in empathy toward those in Christ, including those who are different from me or may even criticize me. I trust, dear Spirit, that as God pours love into my heart through Your presence, I can channel that love to be gracious and helpful to my brothers and sisters. I ask this in the name of Jesus and for the blessing of my brothers and sisters. Amen.