Week 14 “Carry one another’s burdens”
Day 3
Pray:
Ask God to reorient you to Himself. Confess any known sin. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Be still and reflect on Jesus and His sacrifice for you. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s Word. Pray for others in your life that they, too, would know and love God today.
Read:
Gal. 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
Reflect:
Life ebbs and flows for everyone. There are times when you are not struggling, but your brother or sister is. You must help them with gentleness and humility because you are never above struggle or failure yourself. Maybe right now you are the struggler and you desperately need gentle and humble assistance from one who is spiritual. What does it mean to be “spiritual”? In the Scriptures, it is simply a contrast between what is ‘of Christ’ and what is ‘of the sinful flesh.’ To be spiritual means to be currently living in obedience to Jesus. No one is perfect in thought and deed and everyone struggles against the desires of the flesh. But, this is not about perfection; it is about a heart that is surrendered to Jesus. This heart is revealed in the way you treat others. The one who is spiritual does not accept the sin, but neither does he reject the sinner. The spiritual believer does not think himself beyond sinning or above the sinner. If he does, he must be careful because that kind of pride will set him up for a potential fall. If you are in a situation to help someone who has been caught in sin, then approach with caution. First, understand they are “caught.” Of course, they chose this path, but at the same time they are not living in freedom. Sin is indeed a trap. See the other person as being in need. Second, speak as one speaking the words of God and act with the strength that God provides. How did Jesus speak to those caught in sin? How has he spoken to you when you were caught? He speaks with gentleness and with compassion and you must do the same. Finally, see yourself as a brother or sister, not as a judge. See yourself as one who has received, but has not earned God’s grace. Now, go to the one caught in sin and “pay the debt of love” that you owe then. Go with the attitude and the words of one who has been forgiven much.
Pray:
(Personalize this prayer today; make it specific to the circumstances that face you.)
Ask God to lead you through His Spirit as you go through your day. Ask Him to bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what you will encounter today. Tell Him “Yes” to His will and ask Him for His power and protection to live this “yes.” Ask God to create and reveal opportunities to proclaim the good news today.