Bible Reading: Exodus 31; Proverbs 7; John 10; Galatians 6
Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
How do you fulfill the law? It is impossible for you and me to fulfill God's law. We have all broken God's law and are proven guilty.
Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Jesus has fulfilled the law of God completely and perfectly.
Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
Now in Christ, we are made into his body as brothers and sisters. As the church, we are called to bear one another's burdens. When we do this, the Bible says we are fulfilling the law of Christ. What is the law of Christ? It is the law of love.
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Romans 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
Galatians 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
When you see a brother or a sister "overtaken in a fault" we are to restore them in a spirit of meekness. This is bearing one another's burdens. Instead of castigating and judging the person, we should work to restore them. The word translated 'restore' is also translated 'mending' in reference to fishermen mending their nets. Sometimes people get broken like nets. The spiritual act of love is to help mend them. Many times our brothers and sisters in Christ are dealing with burdens that are very heavy. Coming alongside and helping to bear these crushing burdens is what loving brothers and sisters is all about.
Who can you think of that needs help bearing a crushing burden? Who needs you to intercede on their behalf today? Who needs you to call them up and encourage them with the heavy burden they are bearing? Will you stoop down a shoulder and get under that burden with them? Will you fulfill the law of Christ?
In Christ,
Rody
