Daily Devotions
Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2
I’d like to share with you the story of a child who had to walk past a dark, spooky house each day on his way to and from school.
It was frightening to say the least!
People he knew sought to give him courage. One gave the child a good luck charm to ward off the imagined ghosts. Another gave the boy a flashlight. Still another said with sincerity, “It is sinful to be afraid. Trust God and be brave!”
The advice was good, but they gave nothing more.
Finally, one of his classmates said, “I know what it is to be afraid. I’ll walk with you past the house.” The classmate did nothing to remove the fear — except to lift it from his friend’s shoulders and place it on his own.
That’s an example I intend to follow in the future. Advice is cheap. Anybody can give it out.
Most people do.
It takes quite a bit more caring and concern to take someone else’s problems and make them your own. Years ago the Lord Jesus made our problems His own and because of His sacrificial caring — for all who believe — the fears are gone.
Because Jesus has done that for us, because He became one of us and lived our lives for us, our lives are transformed. The fear we once had of humankind’s enemies: sin, death and devil, are removed.
All because Jesus didn’t just say the words.
His is an example we ought to follow with the people we meet who have a worry or a need. Think of the difference we can make in the Savior’s Name; think of the witness that will be made.
Doing as Jesus did, we won’t be people who just do the talking; we will be the Lord Jesus’ witnesses who care enough to share the burdens of others.
From a devotion originally written for “By the Way”
THE PRAYER: Gracious Father, help us to be a helper to others in whatever way You have prepared. This we ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.